National League

Braintree Town 4 BARNET 0

Darren Currie suffered his first defeat as Barnet boss on a nightmare afternoon at Cressing Road. Things started badly when keeper Mark Cousins was red carded after bringing down Callum Morton in the box, Morton dispatching the spot kick sending substitute Rihards Metrevics the wrong way. The home side made light of their position at the bottom of the table and should have added to their advantage when James effort hit the cross bar and Dan Sweeney cleared Rowe’s drive off the line. Number two arrived in the 34th minute when Sweeney was caught in possession allowing Morton to beat Metrevics with a finish off the post. Tempers flared shortly afterwards when Braintree’s Ricky Gabriel felled Jack Taylor with a studs up challenge that only drew a yellow card from referee Carl Brook. Darren Currie introduced Josh Walker for Medi Elito four minutes before the break the substitute being immediately brought down by Courtney Richards resulting in an injury which saw the former Hendon man fail to reappear after half time. The game was effectively put beyond the Bees reach when Craig Robson was harshly adjudged to have pushed Morton in the box the flame haired striker burying his second spot kick of the match to complete his hat trick. Metrevics pulled off a stunning stop from Justin Amaluzor’s drive but it was another former Barnet man who completed a miserable afternoon for the travelling fans Iffy Allen breaking clear to score a debut goal with 7 minutes remaining.

Bees: Cousins, Reynolds, Alexander, Johnson, Adams, Robson, Jack Taylor, Elito (Walker) (Harrison), Sweeney, Mason-Clark (Metrevics), Coulthirst,

Attendance: 700

League Position: 16th

Bostik League Premier

Bognor Regis Town 2 POTTERS BAR TOWN 2

The Scholars came from two goals down to grab a deserved point at Nyewood Lane. Ben Ward-Cochrane was the visitors hero only recalled during the week after a loan spell at Hertford the striker scored twice after being introduced as a second half substitute.

Attendance: 520

League Position: 16th

Lewes 4 WINGATE & FINCHLEY 2

The Blues fell into the bottom three despite taking a two goal lead. Ahmet Rifat and an own goal from Frankie Chappell put the visitors two up with 58 minutes gone. Chappell though reduced the arrears scoring his second goal in as minutes on the hour a Jonte Smith penalty and a brace from Callum Overton condemned Wingate & Finchley to their fourth straight league defeat.

Attendance: 516

League Position: 20th

Evo Stik League Premier South

HENDON 2 Tiverton 2

The Greens stopped their losing streak at 10 games but will surely feel they have gained all three points after taking an early two goal lead. Goals from Bayley Brown and Shaquile Hippolyte-Patrick put Hendon in the driving seat but Tiverton fought back strongly to grab a point thanks to second half goals from Levi Landricombe and Tom Bath.

Attendance: 252

League Position: 15th

Spartan South Midlands League Premier

HADLEY 3 London Colney 0

The Bricks maintained their position at the top of the table thanks to another convincing display. Yemi Buraimoh, Alfie Bartram and Manny Hammond were on target or the home side who stay three points clear of second placed Biggleswade.

League Position: 1st

Its next stop Cressing Road as the Bees return to league action for the first time in 3 weeks. Down in 15th in the table but with 4 games in hand on 6 of the top 7 the play offs are definitely still on the agenda. On the face of it a visit to the team who are bottom of the table and are 10 points from safety should be just what the doctor ordered prior to the FA Cup blockbuster against Brentford. The Iron have only won once at home all season and have proved hospital hosts shipping 31 goals in front of their own fans so far this season.

Manager Hakan Hayrettin has moved to strengthen his squad with the signing of former Bees winger Iffy Allen and defender Daniel Lewis Matsuzaka. There is also another Barnet link with Justin Amaluzor making regular starts for the Iron.

Darren Currie will have to decide whether to keep an unchanged team for an unprecedented fifth match or whether to rest midfield anchor Charlee Adams who’s suspended for the Brentford match. Whatever the bosses selection it seems unlikely that former Braintree stars Simeone Akinola and Mo Bettamer who both featured in the Middlesex Senior Cup win against Hampton and Richmond Borough feature from the start.

Barnet are unbeaten in 6 meetings between the sides having won and drawn on their two previous visits. The teams have met twice already this season Shaq Coulthirst earning a point in the league at the Hive after Jack Taylor’s own goal had given the visitors the lead back in August. Late goals from Elliott Johnson and Che Alexander seeing the Bees on their way in the FA Cup after Braintree had cancelled out army strikes by David Tutonda and Jack Taylor.

We’ll have live commentary from Pete Hill and Garry Lakin on HRB Saturday Sport. We’d also like to thank Barnet Secretary John Meir whose assistance has allowed us to provide match coverage.

Braintree Fact: In 1701 Braintree resident Richard Bradley bought the first ever crocodile to the UK keeping it on his farm near the town.

Middlesex Senior Cup

BARNET 2 Hampton & Richmond Borough 0

HENDON 0 Hayes & Yeading 2

London Senior Cup

WINGATE & FINCHLEY 2 Brentford 3 aet

Spartan South Midlands League

Cockfosters 1 EDGWARE TOWN 2

FA Trophy 2nd Round

BARNET 2 Dorchester Town 1

The Bees overcame stubborn resistance from their Evo Stik League opponents to book their place in round three. Enjoying the majority of the possession in the first half Barnet came close to taking an early lead when Charlee Adams low drive rebounded off a post. Magpies keeper Kingsley Latham saved well from Cheye Alexander and Jack Taylor headed just over as the Bees continued to dominate. The home side took the lead after 50 minutes when Shaq Coulthirst drilled home his second goal of the week from the left hand side of the box. Dorchester though continued to frustrate the Bees and drew level when Brennan Camp headed substitute Tom Blair’s cross into the path of Ben Seymour who dispatched his sixth trophy goal to pull the visitors level. Darren Currie’s reaction was to introduce Wes Fonguck for Dan Sweeney pushing Craig Robson into the back four. It was Robson who proved the match winner heading Elliott Johnson’s left wing cross home with eight minutes remaining.

Bees: Cousins, Reynolds, Alexander, Johnson, Sweeney (Fonguck), Adams, Robson, J.Taylor, Elito (Tutonda), Coulthirst, Mason-Clark (Akinola)

HRB Man of the Match: Craig Robson

Hemel Hempstead 4 WINGATE & FINCHLEY 2

The Blues cup run came to an end at Vauxhall Road. Two goals apiece from Darren Ward and Sanchez Watt looked to have put the game beyond the visitors reach before Sean Cronin scored twice for Wingate in the space of two second half minutes.

Bostik League Premier

POTTERS BAR TOWN 0 Brightlingsea Regent 2

The Scholars have now lost five straight league games after a second half double from Billy Hunt gave the visitors the points.

League Position: 17th

Evo Stik League Premier South

Met Police 3 HENDON 0

Goals from Jack Mazzone, Max Blackmore and Jonathon Hypolite left the Greens without a win since December 1st

League Position: 15th

Spartan South Midlands Premier

EDGWARE TOWN 3 Leverstock Green 1

League Position: 9th

HADLEY 3 Harpenden Town 0

Another excellent performance took the Bricks to the top of the table for the first time. Goals from Ned Clarke, Paul Wright and Luke Alfano gave Hadley their fourth straight league win taking them two points clear of Tring Athletic.

League Position: 1st

The Bees turn from Giant killers to Giants when they entertain Dorchester Town in the second round of the FA Trophy. You can see the Wembley arch from The Hive and the Trophy represents an excellent chance for Barnet to return to the National Stadium for the first time in 46 years. Back in 1972 Ted Heath was in number ten and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at number one as Stafford Rangers broke Barnet hearts.

Last weeks heroics at Bramall Lane have made the Bees the afocus of national attention with a fourth round FA Cup tie to come against Brentford. Despite his transformation of a previously underachieving squad Darren Currie is still officially Barnet’s Temporary Head Coach but with a record of two wins and a draw fans will be shocked if his permanent appointment is not confirmed shortly. Today Currie will have to decide whether to rest some of his first team against opponents who play their football two levels below his side.

Dorchester have never gone beyond the third round in the competition and have already proved giant killers knocking out National South side Eastbourne Borough in the last round. Despite being 16th in the Evo Stik League Premier South the Magpies are in reasonable form unbeaten in four and arriving fresh from a local derby win against Poole Town. They have already played five games in the Trophy to reach this stage and in Ben Seymour with five goals can boast one of the top scorers in the competition.

We’ll have live commentary on the match from Pete Hill and Garry Lakin at The Hive as well as all the local football news on HRB Saturday Sport from 2:45pm ⚽️⚽️

Dorchester Fact: The Dorset Naga grown in Dorchester is the hottest chilli in the world registering 970,000 on the Scoville Scale

BARNET will play Brentford in the FA Cup Fourth Round. The teams have met 14 times before with Barnet yet to record a victory. The tie will be played on the weekend of January 26th.

FA Cup Third Round

Sheffield United 0 BARNET 1

Shaq Coulhirst’s 19th minute penalty was enough to put the Bees into the fourth round for only the third time in front of 966 ecstatic travelling fans at Bramall Lane. Barnet closed the 83 place gap between the two teams with a performance that even drew praise from Blades boss Chris Wilder who said afterwards ” we weren’t the second best team out there they made us look fifth best.”

The home side who showed ten changes from their last outing rarely threatened as the Bees one touch football caught the eye. Shaq Coulthirst had the ball in the net early on but his header was ruled out for offside. Barnet though were not to be denied Coulthirst turning provider after 19 minutes finding Ephron Mason-Clark in the area Blades defender Richard Stearman pulling the teenager down in the box giving referee Tony Harrington no choice but to point to the spot. Goalkeeper Simon Moore guessed right but couldn’t stop Coulthirst’s calm finish to put the Bees deservedly ahead.

The home fans became increasingly impatient as United failed to threaten Mark Cousins goal. In fact it was Barnet who spurned the perfect opportunity to go further in front when Dan Sweeney got the ball caught under his feet from Medy Elito’s corner when any touch would have taken the ball into the net. Sheffield United sent in top scorer Billy Sharp after 65 minutes but he failed to ignite the home attack. With time running out the Blades looked to have conjured up an unlikely equaliser but Cousins produced a super save pushing Leon Clarke’s header onto the crossbar. Afterwards temporary boss Darren Currie reiterated his desire to take the job on full time and after one of the best performances in the clubs history Bees fans will all agree he definitely deserves the chance.

Bees: Cousins, Alexander, Johnson, Reynolds, Robson, Adams, Coulthirst (Harrison), J.Taylor, Elito (Tutonda), Sweeney, Mason-Clark (Fonguck)

HRB Man of the Match: The whole team.