The Bees continued their winning start to the 2022/23 pre-season with a comfortable 4-0 win against Bedford Town at The New Eyrie.

Dean Brennan’s side started on the front foot and tested the Bedford goalie early on when Sean Shields crossed to Nicke Kabamba who saw his powerful header tipped over the crossbar.

In the 9th minute, Dean Brennan’s side made the breakthrough after Ryan De Havilland’s low strike from inside the box was parried into Kabamba’s path who tapped in from two-yards out.

The hosts responded instantly to going behind and almost got themselves level when Charlie Sanders found space inside the area to strike goalwards and force a save from Laurie Walker, before heading the rebound onto the top of bar.

Rob Hall had the Bees’ next chance shortly afterwards when he cut back inside from the right flank to fire the ball across goal and force a smart save from the ‘keeper.

The Eagles had a good chance to equalise in the 26th minute when the ball fell to Jaylan Jones on the edge following a cross into the box, but he pulled his shot wide of the target.

Bedford hit the frame of the goal shortly afterwards when Danny Setchell had a free-kick laid off to him from 25-yards out, with the effort striking the crossbar before being cleared upfield.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when Dale Gorman played a lofted ball through the middle of the defence to De Havilland who slotted calmly past the onrushing goalie.

Dean Brennan’s side continued to push and went close to scoring again just before the break as Jerome Okimo’s floated cross towards the back post was headed goalwards by Kabamba and scooped off the line by the ‘keeper.

The Bees found the back of the net for the third time in the evening in the 52nd minute when Ephron Mason-Clark bent a shot into the top right corner after being found inside the box.

Walker later pulled off two good saves to deny Tyrone Lewthwaite’s shot from inside the box and then palmed a free-kick around the outside of the post a few minutes later.

The Eagles had a clear opportunity to pull one back in the 69th minute when Lewthwaite ran clean of the defence, only to strike wide of the target.

Dean Brennan’s side scored a fourth goal in the 73th minute after Daniel Powell won and dispatched a penalty into the bottom right corner.

Sam Beard almost netted his side’s fifth of the game when he struck one towards the roof of the net but his effort was tipped over the bar – leaving the Bees to settle for consecutive 4-0 victories.

Bees first-half team: Laurie Walker, Jerome Okimo, Moussa Diarra, Danny Collinge, Ben Wynter, Dale Gorman, Ryan De Havilland, Sean Shields, Nicke Kabamba, Rob Hall. Subs (not used): Antonis Vasilou, Trialist A, Trialist B.

Goals: Kabamba (9’), De Havilland (33’).

Bees second-half team: Laurie Walker, Sam Beard, Trialist C, Trialist D, Jordan Thomas, Michael Phillips, Sam Granville (Trialist A 78’), Wes Fonguck, Daniel Powell, Ephron Mason-Clark, Jamar Loza. Subs (not used): Antonis Vasiliou.

Goals: Mason-Clark (52’), Powell (74’ pen).