Top of the table, Barnet entertained Hyde in the first ever league meeting between the two sides. With Elliot Johnson still out, Jordan Brown continued at half time and Roberta Casabella returned in place of Harry Crawford who dropped to the bench. Luisma Villa was named amongst the substitutes.
The home side went ahead on just 6 minutes when Anthony Acheampong played Keanu MARSH-BROWN through on the right and the Bees’ winger cut in and scored with a smartly angled drive. Marsh-Brown and Gambin were strong on the wings and Barnet dominated without really looking their best though Curtis Weston came close to scoring.
Barnet lost Gambin through injury midway through the first half to be replaced by Luisma Villa but the home side increased their lead on 39 minutes when a cross by Marsh-Brown found Jake Hyde whose shot was blocked but Mark BYRNE following up rifled his shot into the corner of the net.
HT: Bees 2 Hyde 0
Barnet were stunned when a long range shot from Hyde centre back, Liam Tomsett flew past Graham Stack just a minute into the second half to bring the visitors back into the game. The goal seemed to unsettle the Bees who had looked to be coasting to victory and they struggled to create many chances though Jake Hyde should have done better than miss control the ball after being put through into the penalty area by Luisma.
Jake Hyde was then put through again for a one on one with Carnell, the Hyde keeper, but Carnell saved easily and it was the visitors who scored next through Tomsett again with another long range shot after Luisma had been too easily brushed off the ball.
After being two goals up, the Bees had now been pegged back to 2-2. Edgar Davids took off Marsh-Brown and the disappointing, Luisma bringing on Mauro Vilhete and Harry Crawford and within two minutes, CRAWFORD put the Bees ahead again with a fine measured shot from the edge of the penalty area.
However, Hyde showed have levelled the scores after three home defenders were beaten in a run down the right and Brown missed when it seemed easier to score. Mauro Vilhete, who looked sharp after coming on, had a goal disallowed for offside, but it was Hyde that looked more likely to score and it was with no little relief for the Barnet fans when the final whistle went leaving the Bees with all three points and still unbeaten, though Cambridge United’s 3-0 win over Tamworth meant that the Bees had slipped down to 2nd in the table. Still a very good start to the new season, but a far from convincing performance today, especially in the second half.
FT: Bees 3 Hyde 2
Barnet Mad Bees’ Player of the Match: Curtis Weston
Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, Stephens, Acheampong, Brown; Marsh-Brown (Crawford 82), Weston, Roberto Casabella, Byrne, Gambin (Luisma 28, Vilhete 83); Hyde.
Subs Not Used: Jupp, Saville.
Att: 1669