SIX ON THE SPIN FOR BRENNAN’S BUSY BEES
A FINE brace from Harry Smith booked Barnet’s place in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy at the expense of Torquay United.
Smith took a little over a minute to break through and and Kieron Evans hadd equalised with his first goal for the Gulls, added a second to the delight of manager Dean Brennan.
“That’s the sign of character, that’s the sign of a good team and that comes from people’s personalities,” the Bees boss said after a sixth straight win in all competitions.
“It was a brilliant start but we couldn’t capitalise on it, we were a bit naïve at times and they threw the kitchen sink at us, but we gave it our all.
“I’m delighted to be in the next round, it’s a fantastic competition. I think it’s underestimated by some of the bigger clubs – we’re looking forward to the draw on Monday.”
Barnet took the lead inside two minutes as Ryan De Havilland’s cross found Smith, whose header looped over United keeper Mark Halstead.
Two minutes later, the Gulls almost managed an immediate reply as a cross from Dillon De Silva picked out Aaron Jarvis but he headed against the bar.
On eight minutes, it was the Bees’ turn to hit the upright as Sam Woods connected with a Dale Gorman free-kick with crossbar rattled again.
Moments later, Nicke Kabamba tested Halstead with a low drive which the keeper turned around the post.
Gulls boss Gary Johnson was forced into a re-think on 28 minutes with Newport County loanee Lewis Collins replaced by Tope Fadahunsi.
And the change gave the Gulls added zest with Tom Lapslie forcing a first real save from Bees keeper Laurie Walker before Jarvis attempted an angled effort from distance which sailed narrowly wide.
Fadahunsi then struck the post after being teed up by Jarvis as United ended the half well.
Sam Beard could, and perhaps should, have doubled Barnet’s lead after missing Dale Gorman’s cross six minutes after the restart.
And the visitors were duly punished four minutes later when Evans opened his goal scoring account for the club with a free-kick that evaded everyone in the box – although Shaun Donnellan may have got a final touch to it.
Undettered, Barnet were back in front within seconds – Smith heading home a cross from the left from Beard – and the Bees held on to seal their place in the last eight.
As for Johnson, he is now left to focus on their league encounter next week.
“We have got to learn from it, we will go through it during the week,” he said. “Both teams gave a big effort and I think that we could have got ourselves another one. If they go in, then we are saying that that is our stardust.”