Match Report: Barnet 2-1 Maidenhead United

The game got off to a fairly even start, with both sides playing good football, before Maidenhead saw the first half chance of the game, coming from a Charlee Adams free kick in the 4^th minute, which ultimately resulted in nothing for the away team.

The Bee’s replied almost instantly, with a long range Wynter effort being saved comfortably by keeper Dan Gyollai.

Not long after, Dean Brennan’s side were awarded a free kick following a foul on top scorer Nicke Kabamba. Dale Gorman stepped up to take the set piece for the Bees, whose delivery was dangerous, but nothing came of it in the end.

In the 10^th minute, there were penalty appeals by the Barnet players and fans following another potential foul on Kabamba., which were unfortunately waved away by referee Matthew Dicicco.

Brennan’s side saw another chance come their way just a few minutes later, with Dom Revan winning the ball back superbly, before playing a ball hard and fast into the box, but the resulting shot deflected straight in to the arms of the Magpies keeper.

With both sides growing into the game more, the referee awarded the home side a free kick in the 20^th minute, along with a yellow for Will De Havilland. Pritchard and Gorman both stood over the free kick, with Gorman opting to go for goal from a long way out. A corner ensued, following a deflection off a Maidenhead defender.

In the 27^th minute, Ryan De Havilland played a ball through to Kabamba, who looked to be through on goal but brought down by a Magpies defender. However, the referee waved play on, despite the striker’s complaints.

With both sides playing good football, the Bee’s finally broke the deadlock 34 minutes in, after a superb delivery from the right-hand side by Ben Wynter saw the clubs top scorer Nicke Kabamba blast it home on the volley, to the right hand side of the Maidenhead keeper, extending his tally to 10 for the season.

Barnet continued to hound the Maidenhead defence, with a dangerous chance coming in the 39^th minute. After some good footwork by Kabamba in the box, he found De Havilland, who’s first time curling effort was saved well by Gyollai, resulting in a corner for the home side.

Following the corner, Okimo had an effort after a goalmouth scramble, which saw the ball fly just wide of the post.

Brennan’s side were starting to look extremely dominant towards the end of the first half, with Ryan De Havilland having another effort on goal, but Gyollai kept it out well once again.

1 minute of time was added on by the officials, and the whistle went, seeing the Bees go into the break with a 1-0 lead, and a promising first half performance.

HALF TIME: 1-0

Five minutes into the second half, The Bees were awarded a free kick on the left, after Idris Kanu was pulled to the floor. The delivery was a good one, with the ball falling to Collinge, who volleyed it goalwards, but the ball flew just over the crossbar.

In the 55^th minute, following a Maidenhead free kick, the referee blew his whistle after a scramble in the box, and the away side were awarded a penalty. There were calls from the away support to send the Barnet man off, but the referee kept his cards in his pocket. Charlee Adams stepped up to take the penalty, blasting it straight down the middle of the net, giving the Magpies the equaliser.

The Magpies continued to attack, as they looked to go in front, with Laurie Walker providing a tremendous save to keep out a long-range effort in the 64^th minute.

A Maidenhead free kick from close range was awarded, with Sam Barratt and Charlee Adams standing over it. Adams was the one to take it, but his free kick was straight at the wall, resulting in a turnover in possession.

Shouts of “COME ON BARNET!” rang around the Hive in an attempt to rally the Barnet players to get back in front, after Maidenheads dominance in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

The Bees players seemed to respond to the chants, starting to play some better football, and stringing some moves together.

Brennan’s first substitutions of the game came in the 73^rd minute, which saw Rob Hall make way for Marvin Armstrong, and Sean Shields replace captain Dale Gorman.

Shields looked to make an instant impact in the 77^th minute, with a lovely delivery from the right wing meeting the head of goal scorer Kabamba, whose header failed to trouble the keeper, going out for a Maidenhead goal kick.

Just 2 minutes later, Barnet could’ve put themselves in the lead, after a Kanu shot was spilled by keeper Gyollai, before Nicke Kabamba looked to knock it home from the rebound but was tackled by a Maidenhead defender before he could get his shot away.

Brennan’s side finally got back in front in the 82^nd minute, with super-sub Armstrong tucking it home from close range following a spillage from the Magpies’ keeper.

In the 83^rd minute, there were shouts for a penalty for the Bees, which were waved away by the referee, to much dismay by the Barnet players and staff. Subsequentially, manager Dean Brennan was sent to the stands.

The Bees final substitution came in the 90^th minute, which saw Sam Woods come on for Ryan De Havilland.

In added time, the away side were looking to get an equaliser, but with all 11 Barnet men behind the ball, it was proving to be quite some task.

The final whistle went, and Barnet took all 3 hard-fought points, seeing Brennan’s side go up to 10^th in the Vanarama National League.

FULL TIME: 2-1

Bees Starting XI: 1. Laurie Walker; 4. Daniele Collinge; 6. Jerome Okimo; 7. Rob Hall; 8. Dale Gorman ©; 9. Nicke Kabamba; 11. Idris Kanu; 14. Harry Pritchard; 21. Ben Wynter; 24. Dom Revan; 33. Ryan De Havilland

Substitutes: 5. Marvin Armstrong; 10. Daniel Powell; 28. Sam Woods; 31. Aymen Azaze; 32. Sean Shields

Goal Scorers: Kabamba (34’), Armstrong (82’)

Maidenhead Starting XI: 1. Dan Gyollai; 2. Zico Asare; 4. Will De Havilland; 6 Remy Clerima; 7 Sam Barratt; 10. Kane Ferdinand; 14 Emile Acquiah; 15 Idris Odutayo; 20. Koby Arthur; 24 Alan Massey ©; 27. Charlee Adams

Substitutes: 3. Sam Beckwith; 12 Bradley Keetch; 17. Reece Smith; 21. Termitope Eweka; 23. Adriam Clifton

Goal Scorer: Adams (55’)