Barnet comfortably won their opening pre-season friendly against Essex Senior League club, Burnham. Head Coach, Mark Robson chose two completely different line ups to play in each half and included a number of trial players. These were as follows: Kevin Rutkiewicz is a former Aberdeen and St. Johnstone central defender; Curtis Weston is a wide player who has played in recent years at Brentford and Gillingham; Anthony Edgar is a midfield player with West Ham connections again who was at Yeovil Town last season; Charles Ademeno is a striker who has played for a number of clubs including Crawley Town, Grimsby and AFC Wimbledon; Jonathan Fortune has had Premiership experience at Charlton Athletic and is a central defender who played on loan at Exeter City last season while Dean Sinclair and Jake Hyde are both former Bees, of course. Deano was last at Ryman League, Lowestoft while Jake Hyde scored 9 goals for Scottish 1st division club, Dundee last season.
Robson also included three members of last season’s successful youth side including new professional signings, Elliott Johnson and Luke Gambin and prolific youth team striker, George Sykes. There were also chances for new signings, Freddie Warren, Ahmed Abdulla and Olly Lee to show what they could do but no appearance yet of Steve Kabba or Danny Senda after their long term injuries last season.
The first half ended goalless but in the second half all that changed. Jake Hyde put the Bees ahead with a far post header before Olly Lee made it 2-0 with a shot from 20 yards that found the bottom corner. Lee made it 3-0 with his second goal after rounding the keeper before Hyde grabbed his second with a diving header from 10 yards. Charles Ademeno made it 5-0 after a cross from Jordan Brown before Mauro Vilhete finished off the scoring following a cross from Anthony Edgar.
So a good solid start for the Bees with some good performances and Lee and Hyde amongst the goals, though it has to be recognised that the home side were at a much lower level than the Bees will be up against in the weeks to come.
Barnet are away next Saturday at St. Albans City, kick off 3pm.
1st half: Liam O’Brien, Andy Yiadom, Elliott Johnson, Freddie Warren, Jack Saville, Kevin Rutkiewicz, Mark Byrne, Curtis Weston ,George Sykes, Ricky Holmes, Luke Gambin.
2nd half: Sam Cowler, Dean Sinclair, Jordan Brown, Ahmed Abdulla, Jon Fortune, Clovis Kamdjo, Mauro Vilhete, Olly Lee, Jake Hyde, Anthony Edgar, Charles Ademeno.