Match Report: Barnet 4-3 Maidstone

Barnet hosted Maidstone at The Hive in the 19:45 Kick off on Tuesday the 4th of October 2022, a fixture that sees Maidstone manager, Hakan Hayrettin makes a return to the club he once played for.

There have been some changes to the starting XI after the defeat to York with Rob Hall, Idris Kanu and, Michael Phillips all entering the line-up.

Kanu gets the game underway, and Maidstone set the tone with an early yellow card with Hoyte making a late challenge in the Barnet half.

Barnet takes an early lead thanks to Hall, the winger crosses a ball towards Kabambe who seems to cushion it into the net but it is indicated as a Hall goal.

A lot to take in during the first 15 minutes, Maidstone have two penalty calls and a counter-attack goal. This resulted from a Barnet free kick which leaves Alabi to make a powerful run that causes a scramble in the box which can’t be cleared by the Barnet defenders allows for a Barham tap-in.

The game turned to be in The Bee’s favour keeping The Stones’ chances to a minimum, with only Alabi being a real threat to Barnet’s defence. Dean Brennan’s men were on top in the last 20 minutes with multiple chances falling to Kanu and Kabamba but both forwards are denied by brilliant goalkeeping.

As the game came to the end of the half Kabamba is once again played in behind but Joe Ellul was able to make a last-ditch tackle to deny the Brent-born striker from taking the lead.

The second half started extremely well for the home side with Kanu getting multiple half chances that can’t quite be converted.

Kanu again makes himself a problem for the Stones’ defence, winning a free kick in a dangerous position outside the Maidstone box.

Hall and Dale Gorman both step up to take the free-kick and to Hadler’s surprise, Gorman strikes the ball and leaves the keeper rooted, giving the bee’s the lead in the 51st minute.

The early stages of the second half have all been bright for Barnet, with The Stones causing next to no trouble. The away side does try to turn the tide with a substitution, bringing Christie Pattison on for Dylan Cawley.

In the 72nd minute, Barnet further extends their lead with full-back Ben Wynter’s strike into the bottom corner. Unfortunately for the Bee’s, Stones midfielder, Regan Booty quickly responds moments later.

The score is 3-2 and Barnet seems to be holding onto the lead, with the finish almost in sight.

Kabamba in the 90th minute steals the ball from Ellul and breaks through on goal, placing it into the bottom corner and almost securing the victory. That two-goal lead is later reduced to one as an own goal from Hall leaves the game to finish 4-3.

A close game in score but Barnet players will feel as if it was a hard-earned victory, a scoreline that doesn’t completely reflect the brilliance of the Bee’s today.

Starting XI: 1. Laurie Walker; 6. Jerome Okimo; 7. Rob Hall; 8. Dale Gorman; 9. Nicke Kabamba (92’ Sam Woods); 11. Idris Kanu (81’ Kian Flanagan); 14.Harry Pritchard (84’ Sean Shields); 21. Ben Wynter; 27. Moussa Diarra; 33. Ryan De Havilland; 44. Michael Phillips.

Unused Substitutes: 31. Aymen Azaze; 18.Connor Smith

Attendance:  1173 (Away: 185)