HRB Sport Live from The Hive

After last Saturday’s drama both locally and over the Aintree hurdles HRB Sport is counting our teams home in the race for survival or championship trophies.

Barnet were first past the post with a victory in the Prime Minister’s constituency where gladly there was no extension to the team’s foray into the danger zone. Despite the midweek loss to former manager John Still’s already relegated Maidstone and the end of an historic clean sheet run the team can celebrate National League football in 2019-20 in front of their fans with the visit of promotoon chasing Wrexham.

HRB Sport will have live commentary of the entire match.

News too of scores around the borough where Potters Bar can become the next team safe. A win at Margate combined with Burgess Hill dropping poit’s will see The Scholars achieve a second season in the top flight.

Wingate & Finchley are hot on their heels aiming to make up ground at Corinthian Casuals.

Hendon have the advantage of leading a pack of teams above the bottom group as they seek to extend good away form at Farnborough.

And Hadley are now involved in a 3 horse race for the title after Biggleswade FC’s win over Tring. These three teams share 76 points with Biggleswade having 2 games in hand.

All to play for on ahead of a crucial Easter season.

Coming up on HRB Sport………..

Saturday April 13th
2.30 – 5.00
Live coverage from The Hive

National League
Barnet v Wrexham
Garry and Pete

Harrogate Town v Boreham Wood

Bostik Premier Division
Margate v Potters Bar Town
Alan

Corinthian Casuals v Wingate & Finchley
Paul

Evo-Stik Southern Premier South
Farnborough v Hendon
David

Spartan South Midlands Premier
Leighton Town v Hadley

Edgware Town v Tring Athletic

Gallagher Premiership
Bristol v Saracens (17.30)

Edgar’s Elbow…Barnet v Wrexham…The Preview

Wrexham visit The Hive for the third time tomorrow hoping to gain the three points that will virtually assure them of a place in the play offs. Of the previous two home encounters with the Dragons most Bees fans will remember a stormy encounter in front of the TV cameras in October 2013 which saw the visitors Stephen Wright dismissed along with Barnet boss Edgar Davids. Wright appearing to receive his marching orders for being unfortunate to collide with Edgar’s elbow.

After Barnet’s recent good run brought to an end at Maidstone on Tuesday Darren Currie is likely to shuffle his squad with Ricardo Santos, Elliott Johnson and Dave Tarpey set for a recall. The boss may also include 17year old midfielder Antonio Vasiliou who made his debut in the week.

At one stage Wrexham led the table but their form has dipped recently having lost four of their last six matches. A lack of goals has been the main problem for Bryan Hughes team. Their total of only 19 away goals is the lowest of the promotion hopefuls. Earlier in the season a Stuart Beavon goal separated the two teams in what was Wrexham’s third straight win against the Bees. Barnet last beat the Dragons at home at Underhill in March 2008 when goals goals from Ishmail Yakabu, Anthony Thomas and Nicky Nicolau secured a 3-2 victory.

We’ll have commentary on the Bees last home game of the season from Pete Hill & Garry Lakin in a special edition of HRB Saturday Sport live from The Hive.

Wrexham Fact: Wrexham was the birthplace of George Jeffries the hanging judge famous for his ruthless sentencing of offenders.

Saturday Roundup

National League

Maidenhead 0 BARNET 1

The Bees set a new club record keeping their seventh consecutive clean sheet at York Road. In a match of few chances Medy Elito‘s first goal for the club a minute before half time was enough to complete another excellent week for Darren Currie’s team. Elito expertly finished off Ephron Mason-Clark’s right wing cross with a powerful shot into the roof of the net. With Ricardo Santos looking like he had never been away in his first start for 11 months and Harry Taylor outstanding in midfield the Bees did well to resist a physical home side. Che Alexander clearing Alan Massey’s effort off the line in the first half and Marc Cousins saving well from Mike Fondop in the second.

Bees: Cousins, Alexander, Johnson, Santos, Reynolds, H.Taylor, Robson, Tarpey (Tutonda), Elito, Mason-Clark (Akinola), Coulthirst (Barham)

Attendance: 1491

League Position: 12th

HRB Sport Man of the Match: Harry Taylor

Bostik League Premier

Carshalton Athletic 5 WINGATE &FINCHLEY 1

The Blues were never in the game against play off hopefuls Carshalton. The home side took a three goal lead through Harry Ottawa’s, Ricky Korboa and an Alieu Nijie own goal before Anthony Mendy gave the travelling fans something to cheer. The impressive Korboa completing his hat trick with two more goals in the final 20 minutes.

Attendance: 497

League Position: 19th

Harlow Town 2 POTTERS BAR TOWN 5

The Scholars eased their relegation fears with their first win in five games. The match was decided in the opening 22 minutes as goals from Dernell Wynter, Nana Kyei and a double from Bradley Sach took the visitors into a 4-0 lead. The home side halved the deficit with second half goals from Tom Hitchcock and Matthew Foy before Wynter rounded off an excellent afternoon for the visitors with his second goal of the game from the penalty spot. The only disappointment for joint bosses Lee O’Leary and Scott Cousins was a red card for midfielder George Nicholas.

Attendance: 224

League Position: 17th

Evo Stik League Premier South

HENDON 0 Dorchester 0

Attendance: 271

League Position: 15th

Spartan South Midlands Premier

Baldock Town 0 HADLEY 2

The. Ricks kept up the pressure on league leaders Tring Athletic thanks to a Tom Milton header and a Paul Wright penalty before half time.

League Position: 2nd

Leverstock Green 0 EDGWARE TOWN 0

League Position: 12th

HRB Sport approaches final stretch in grand National survival race

A short time ago it seemed that all of HRB’s football teams would be involved in a final day decider, either attempting to avoid relegation or in the case of Hadley, challenging for the title.
Today could see the first target reached as Barnet will secure their place in the National League with victory at Maidenhead. Garry and Pete will be live from York Road to witness the celebrations should the Bees match Havant & Waterlooville’s result.
Their cause was greatly helped by one of the team’s best performances of the season, a 3-0 victory at promotion chasing Eastleigh. Shaq Coulthirst opened the scoring on 24 minutes before the hosts lost Danny Hollands to a straight red card and had manager and former Barnet keeper Ross Flitney sent to the stands. Ephron Mason-Clark capitalised on the visitors player advantage 7 minutes into the second half before Coulthirst wrapped up the points from the penalty spot. Remarkably it was the team’s 6th clean sheet on the spin, of which 4 have been achieved against teams in the top 7.
Boreham Wood have a 9 point cushion going into a challenging final month when they play 4 teams chasing promotion. A victory at home to Sutton will go a long way to avoiding any danger of being caught.
Both Potters Bar and Wingate & Finchley have picked up useful points of late, but still have work to do with only a 5 and 3 point advantage respectively over the bottom group. The Scholars achieved a significant milestone in the week with the Pakex passing its ground grading inspection to allow the team to play at Step 3. The team can add to the celebrations with victory over second bottom Harlow whereas the Blues face a tricky visit to 6th placed Carshalton.
Hendon are breathing more easily after their encouraging victory last Saturday, and face a fellow struggler in Dorchester. A win will leave the team on the verge of safety.
Hadley missed the chance to reclaim top spot in the Spartan South Midlands Premier when they lost 2-0 at Biggeswade FC. However they remain level on points with leaders Tring and 3 points clear of their conquerors who have games in hand.
London Broncos suffered a nine try thumping at Warrington in Friday night’s encounter which takes Wolves to the top of Super League on points difference. Nathan Mason and Matty Gee scored second half tries for London who remain 11th.
Owen Farrell is back to captain Saracens after missing the European Cup win over Glasgow. The Men in Black make 8 changes from that match for the visit of Newcastle which could see the team secure a play off spot.
A late change in the paddock this week caused a stir in the betting tents; however, only fools and horses could flummox HRB’s presentation plans with well known (disc) jockey Martin Rosen leaping aboard the favourite to navigate the famous course from 2.30. Rumour has it he’s on a Tiger Roll and will be closing early to bank his winnings.
Nick will be on hand to run the rule over the entire field on Sunday afternoon.
Coming up on HRB Sport………..
Saturday April 6th
2.30 – 5.30
Presenter: Martin

National League
Maidenhead United v Barnet 
Garry and Pete

 
Boreham Wood v Sutton United
Bostik Premier Division
Harlow Town v Potters Bar Town 
Alan

Wingate & Finchley v Bognor Regis Town

Paul

Evo-Stik Southern Premier South
Hendon v Dorchester Town
Spartan South Midlands Premier
Baldock Town v Hadley
Leverstock Green v Edgware Town
Gallagher Premiership
Saracens v Newcastle Falcons
Betfred League One
London Skolars v Workington Town (12.15)
David
Betfred Championship
Toronto Wolfpack v Sheffield Eagles (16.05)
David
 
Sunday April 7th
Presenter: Nick with Ben

Don’t Mention the ‘B’ Word….Maidenhead United v Barnet…..The Preview

The Bees travel to the oldest continually used football ground in the world in search of an historic seventh straight clean sheet. It’s precisely 558 minutes since Mark Cousins has had to pick the ball out of the net the last time Barnet went on such a run in the League was 40 years ago in March 1979. Should they keep Maidenhead at bay for another 90 minutes it will set a new club record.

Darren Currie’s team will arrive in Berkshire I’m confident mood after Tuesdays excellent 3-0 win at play off chasing Eastleigh. The boss will check on the fitness of midfielder Andre Boucard before naming his team. He’ll also have to decide whether to recall striker Dave Tarpey to face the club where he spent three years scoring 80 goals for the Magpies.

Maidenhead have recovered after a poor start which saw them flirting with the relegation places. A recent improvement which has seen them unbeaten in their last five home games should be enough to keep them safe despite having conceded more home goals than any side apart from already relegated Braintree. Alan Devonshire in his second spell at York Road will be looking for a strong finish to the season which will make the Magpies dangerous opponents.

Whilst Barnet need a point to make them mathematically safe many fans now believe that a run of seven games without defeat has shown that Darren Currie deserves the chance to take the Bees into next season. It remains to be seen if Chairman Tony Kleanthos shares that view.

We’ll have live commentary from Pete Hill and Garry Lakin at York Road on HRB Saturday Sport from 2:45pm

Maidenhead Fact: Prime Minister Theresa May was voted in as the towns MP in 1997 and has stayed ever since.

Saturday Roundup

National League

BARNET 0 Leyton Orient 0

The Bees kept a fifth consecutive clean sheet for the first time in 17 and boss Darren Currie will feel his team should have toppled the league leaders. In a game of few chances Barnet had the best opportunities former Bees keeper Dean Brill saving from Dave Tarpey and Wes Fonguck in the first half while Medy Elito hit the post in the second. Josh Coulson’s header hooked off the line by Elliott Johnson was the closest the visitors came to breaking the deadlock. The only concern for Currie was the sight of both Andre Boucard and Dan Sweeney being forced off with injury. Sweeney was replaced by Ricardo Santos making his first appearance of the season.

Bees: Cousins, Alexander (Robson), Johnson, Reynolds, Sweeney (Santos), Boucard (Elito), H.Taylor, Tarpey, Mason-Clark, Coulthirst, Fonguck,

Attendance: 3648

HRB Sport Man of the Match: Callum Reynolds

League Position: 16th

Bostik League Premier

POTTERS BAR TOWN 2 Folkestone Invicta 2

The Scholars final minutes jinx struck again at The Pakex as they threw away a two goal lead with only three minutes remaining. Barnet loanee Nana Kyei scored on his debut before Bradley Sach looked to have sealed a much needed win 10 minutes from time. The home side though were rocked by two goals in as many minutes from Ira Jackson and Adam Yusuff.

Attendance: 192

League Position: 18th

WINGATE & FINCHLEY 0 Bognor Regis Town 2

A frustrating afternoon for David Norman’s team who’s good recent run came to an end thanks to a double from Mason Walsh. The home side struggled to impose themselves after having Donovan Makoma sent off after only 24 minutes.

Attendance: 126

League Position: 19th

Evo Stik League Premier South

Poole Town 0 HENDON 2

Goals in the final 12 minutes from Ryan Hope and Ogo Obi were enough to give the Greens the points easing their relegation fears.

Attendance: 595

League Position: 15th

Spartan South Midlands League Premier

EDGWARE TOWN 2 Potton United 2

League Position: 12th

HADLEY 2 Crawley Green 1

Goals from Alfie Bartram and Rob Laney took the Bricks level on points with leaders Tring Athletic who were beaten 1-0 at Colney Heath.

League Position: 2nd

HRB Sport prepares for Summertime Showdown

As we approach British Summer Time, things are looking somewhat sunnier for our teams caught up in a survival battle.  There are still a number of potential contenders for a central role in the final shakeup though and so plenty of twists and turns are likely over the coming month or so.
Barnet are drawing close to safety after another impressive week. A heartening draw at high flying Salford was followed by a further 3 points against Aldershot, who had won at neighbours Boreham Wood last weekend. Ephron Mason-Clark put the Bees ahead shortly after the interval heading in an Elliott Johnson cross and after a Shots equaliser was ruled out for offside Shaq Coulthirst wrapped up the victory 5 minutes from time following a swift counter attack. Boss Darren Currie has now seen his team keep a clean sheet for 4 matches during a run of 5 games unbeaten.
The win coupled with Havant and Waterlooville’s loss at Maidenhead creates a healthy 11 point gap between Barnet and the bottom four.
Midfielder Nana Kyei has moved on loan to Potters Bar for the remainder of the season and striker Mo Bettemer will play at National side Woking in a similar arrangement.
Boreham Wood put the disappointment of last Saturday behind them in securing another important point against second place Solihull Moors. Idris Kanu scored a late equaliser to deny the visitors a victory that would have seen them draw level on points with leaders Leyton Orient. Nathan Blissett put Moors ahead early on but Ralston Gabriel pulled the hosts back into the game on 26 minutes after a David Stephens header was cleared off the line.
Adi Yussuf’s tap in 20 minutes from time restored the Midlands club’s advantage, only for Kanu to salvage a point with 2 minutes remaining.
Wood drop to 20th but have a relatively comfortable 7 point cushion.
After last weekend’s 6 goal thriller at the Maurice Rebak Stadium, which saw the Blues climb out of the relegation zone at the expense of the Scholars, Wingate and Finchley and Potters Bar have a 4 and 3 point advantage respectively over the bottom 3. Both have important home games against mid table teams.
Hendon are similarly 4 points clear in their race to avoid the drop, but have a potentially tricky visit to promotion chasing Poole. Boss James Gray has strengthened his squad for the run-in by re-signing Junior Osborne from Chesham United. Goalkeeper Chris Grace has also joined the Greens on dual registration from Bracknell Town and goes straight into the squad for today’s match. Howard Hall has signed for the Scholars to get more game time.
At the other end of the spectrum, Hadley go into the final 6 rounds only 3 points off top spot. They’ll be hoping local rivals Colney Heath can dent Tring’s winning run
while defeating mid table Crawley Green.
Saracens are looking to reach the European Cup semi finals for the seventh time as they welcome Glasgow Warriors back to Allianz Arena. The teams met in the group stages with the Men in Black winning both rounds. England captain Owen Farrell returns at fly half while George Kruis takes his place in the second row.
Apart from Barnet Press Office Aarron Pullen’s broadcasting debut on HRB Sport from the Salford game, we are delighted to welcome Ben Nothman to the team. Ben joined Nick in the studio last Sunday and we wish him a long and rewarding experience helping us convey the drama and excitement of local sport.
Coming up on HRB Sport………..
Saturday March 30th
2.30 – 6.30
Presenter: Mel

National League
Barnet v Leyton Orient 
Pete

 
Barrow v Boreham Wood 
Bostik Premier Division
Potters Bar Town v Folkestone Invicta
Alan

Wingate & Finchley v Bognor Regis Town

Paul

Evo-Stik Southern Premier South
Poole v Hendon
David

Spartan South Midlands Premier

Hadley v Crawley Green
Edgware Town v Potton United 
European Champions Cup Quarter Final
Saracens v Glasgow Warriors (3.15)

Harry’s Map…. Barnet v Leyton Orient…. The Preview

It’s been 379 minutes since the Bees have conceded a goal in a run of five undefeated matches. Leyton Orient have won their last eight games in all competitions. Something has got to give.

Tuesday’s win against Aldershot virtually assures another season in the National League so Head Coach Darren Currie can concentrate on assessing his squad before the summer. That’s not to say that the boss won’t want to continue his teams impressive run but with a visit to play off contenders Eastleigh on Tuesday night he might be tempted to rotate his squad against the league leaders. One player who won’t be involved is striker Mo Bettamer who’s joined Welling United on loan, while the medical team will have to assess Harry Taylor’s dislocated fingers.

The O’s have the leagues best away defence second best away attack and in striker Macauley Bonne one of non leagues top strikers. Manager Justin Edinburgh has won 42 of his 73 games in charge and looks set to return the East London outfit to the Football League.

Leyton Orient beat the Bees 3-1 at Brisbane Road earlier in the season with Wes Fonguck on target for the visitors. The only meeting between the two at The Hive was a tepid 0-0 draw in October 2016. Hopefully with one of the biggest crowds of the season the action will be more memorable tomorrow.

We’ll have live commentary from Pete Hill at The Hive in HRB Saturday Sport.

Leyton Orient Fact: Harry Beck creator of the iconic London Tube Map was born in Leyton