Barnet stretched their sequence of victories and clean sheets to four last night at Underhill in defeating League 1 Millwall in the 1st Round of the JPT by a 2-0 scoreline.
Ian Hendon, without the injured Ryan O'Neill and Daniel Leach shuffled his pack in terms of team selection, giving starts to Joe Devera, Clovis Kamdjo, Nicky Deverdics, Jake Hyde and Yannick Bolasie,
In only the second minute Jake Hyde showed a great predatory instinct to latch onto a low cross from Albert Adomah who had impressively sped down the right flank.
That made two goals in three minutes for the ex-Swindon striker.
The Bees taking such an early lead naturally prompted the visitors to seek an equaliser and the Lions did put the Barnet under some pressure in the first half. A defensive error gave Jason Price an opportunity in the inside right position inside the Barnet box but his effort crashed against the underside of the bar and in the subsequent melee Kamdjo cleared the danger.
As has been the case of late halftime words of encouragement and cajoling from Ian Hendon extracted an improved second half display from the Bees.
The quality of the game also improved as both sides stepped up a gear as Barnet strived to extend their lead, and for Millwall to draw level.
The tie was over as a contest in the 65th minute when John O'Flynn chased a seemingly lost cause and forced a corner wide on the right; from the resulting Adomah outswinger Kamdjo headed the ball goalwards with Ismail Yakubu heading the ball from close range into a bulging net.
Post match the Millwall manager Kenny Jackett complained that his side had not performed well enough in both penalty areas to win the tie, but by the same token these were the areas where Barnet excelled, the back four looked resolute and determined, there is an air of confidence about their game, and when you have John O'Flynn and Jake Hyde as your chosen strikers goals are most definitely on the agenda.
David Bloomfield.
