Tuesday night was meant to be a local game on the cards until the late arrangement of Eastleigh vs Barnet in the National League, postponed during the cold spell last week and with both clubs suffering a fixture pile up it had to gotten out the way as so to speak.
Being that it’s also the closest away day for me along with Dorking Wanderers both just an hour away silly not to take up the opportunity. Having missed a comprehensive performance at the weekend as the Bees outfought rivals Chesterfield, the Silverlake Stadium was going to need a performance akin to that for another three points.
Only Wrexham and Notts County have won in Hampshire and after a good win away at Southend the Spitfires would have been confident of three more points to continue their play-off charge.
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A cold, crisp night awaited the players and supporters but on a good playing surface despite the recent bad weather, it took a little while to get going as a game, quite bitty and scrappy in the opening exchanges, but the Bees were the side who eventually settled down.
An early change was forced on Dean Brennan’s side with Dom Revan replaced by Sam Beard after a hamstring pull, the visitors reverting to a back four after only ten minutes. As the half wore on the only thing the visitors hadn’t done was put the ball in the back of the net although Marvin Armstrong did do that just that ten minutes before half time ruled out however for offside.
Just prior to that Ryan De Havilland had missed the far post by a mere whisker, the Bees growing ever closer to finding the opening goal. Despite that, the hosts did have a couple of efforts although it took until the 41st minute for a sight of Laurie Walker’s goal, Jake Hesketh shooting wide.
A great save from Walker two minutes after protected the scoreline and just as the hosts could have been in the front the Bees were as stoppage time began. Breaking away from their own half, Armstrong skipped away down the pitch and picked out an unmarked De Havilland to slot home, the young midfielder clattered as he did so, a half time lead for the visitors.
With the Bees in control, the second half was a story of a second goal needed to kill off the game much was their dominance. De Havilland limped off 11 minutes in to be replaced by David Moyo, concern for both the injured players with a massive run of games coming up.
The second goal did come soon after the hour mark, a corner in from the right hand side was bundled in at the back post by Ben Wynter for his 5th goal of the season. The visitors thought they had a third with 13 minutes left, Armstrong’s close range header well saved by Joe McDonnell, anywhere else and the ball was in the net.
The Bees shored up the midfield with the more defensive minded Sam Woods replacing the excellent Armstrong and despite Eastleigh trying to apply pressure to the Barnet goal, the side held firm to register another three points in their own play-off chase.
Yet another good team performance from the Bees, Eastleigh I thought were very toothless up front and the fact it took 40 minutes for glimpse of goal was a little concerning from their point of view.
For Barnet, the midfield was controlled throughout I felt, Armstrong another strong game, the centre half pairing of Jerome Okimo and Danny Collinge largely untroubled but Ben Wynter I feel is really coming into his own now.
We’re starting to see what all the fuss was all about when everyone remarked after we signed him, not just the five goals he contributed so far, his all round play has improved as the season has gone on and really liking what he’s doing for us.
Two defeats in 19 in all competitions is just phenomenal given the state of the club 12 months ago, 9 unbeaten in the current run and 9 clean sheets in the last 13 games, only four conceded during that time, it’s a huge improvement and one we didn’t expect to see quite so soon, long may it continue.
The first of six consecutive away games done, tough trip to Scunthorpe coming up on Friday evening, buoyed by new manager Jimmy Dean and six new signings, but at the moment it seems the Bees are relishing everything coming their way.
