MATCH REPORT | SOUTHEND UNITED 0-2 BARNET FC

Dean Brennan’s side travel to Southend following their unbelievable 6-0 victory on Derby Day against Boreham Wood. The gaffer would only make two changes to his side with Okimo and Coker going to the bench while Idris Kanu and Connor Stevens came in to replace them.

 

Reece Hall-Johnson kicked the game off with an early goal in the fourth minute. His deflected strike looped around the keeper to find the back of the net and give The Bees the lead.

 

Southend came close to scoring on the 10 minute mark when a cross towards the far post found another Southend player who nearly tucked the ball away for a goal but instead sent across the face of goal.

 

A miss pass from Barnet gifts Southend the ball to for them to make a run into the final third where the home side came into a 1-on-1 with Laurie Walker. Walker was forced to make a save to deny the goal.

 

Southend looked dangerous again when they took a shot from the edge of the box but Connor Stevens did well to block the ball. The Shrimpers got another chance one the rebound where Laurie Walker made an unbelievable save to tip the ball over the goal.

 

Wes Fonguck had a chance for Southend on the edge of the box but the ball went over the goal and into the stands.

 

A foul on Idris Kanu got waved off moments before a chance for Southend. The home side had a shot from close range but the ball went over the goal. Kanu was booked moments later for a foul on their number 16, Harry Taylor.

 

Connor Stevens made another incredible block on the cusp of half-time to deny Southend their equaliser.

 

HT: Southend United FC 0 – 1 Barnet FC

 

Barnet were back underway at Roots Hall with one substitution as Idris Kanu came off for Ben Coker.

 

Stevens continued his strong form in the game with a brilliant clearance off the goal-line after Southend got past Laurie Walker.

 

Southend still did not find their equaliser when Henry Sandat came face to face with Laurie Walker and managed to get the ball past him, however, it went across the box rather than being tucked away. The side had a scramble in front of the goal minutes later as none of their players were able to get a solid foot to the ball to get the goal.

 

Free-kick for Southend saw the Walker challenged as he had to stretch to tip the ball away, however, the flag went up for offside regardless.

 

Dale Gorman sent a long ball to find the feet of Nicke Kabamba but he is unable to gain control of the ball with two dark blue shirts either side of him.

 

Southend thought they found their equaliser as the game came closer to the 70th minute mark. An open Barnet defence and goal allowed the player to slip the ball into the back of the net, however, the flag was up for offside as they were denied their goal.

 

Dean Brennan made his second change of the afternoon when Jerome Okimo came onto the pitch for Connor Stevens.

 

Barnet are awarded a penalty in the 76th minute as Harry Pritchard stepped up to the spot to take it. The number 14 sent the ball into the top right corner to double the lead with 14 minutes to go.

 

The goals from Reece Hall-Johnson and Harry Pritchard, both now scoring in consecutive games, secured all three points for The Bees on Boxing Day.

 

FT: Southend United FC 0-2 Barnet FC

 

Starting XI: Walker; Hall-Johnson (Cropper 79’), Collinge, Gorman, Kabamba, Kanu (Coker 46’), Pritchard, Hartigan, Stevens (Okimo 73’), Oluwo, Brunt.
Unused Subs: Stead, Maguire-Drew.
Goals: Hall-Johnson (4’), Pritchard (78’)
Booked: Kanu, Walker.

Attendance: 7,909 (283 away)