Brentford crush Barnet dreams
BRENTFORD 3 BARNET 1
For Barnet, the fairy tale ends here, as does non-League participation in this season’s FA Cup.
Barnet relished the challenge, particularly in the second half, when Craig robson smacked the bar with a header and Dan Sparkes came desperately close from a free-kick as Darren Currie’s side sought to overturn a 2-0 deficit.
As Barnet turned up the tempo, matters turned feisty when Medy Elito crashed into Sergi Canos to trigger a 19-man brawl.
‘He told me he got headbutted,’ Currie said of his player Elito, ‘But the lads are disappointed as they let the first half slip away. They have much to be proud of.’
Even at 3-0 down, Barnet kept pushing as David Tutonda stole in to reduce the deficit.
Ultimately, Barnet were undone at two set-pieces, as Canos and Julian Jeanvier scored first-half goals before Neal Maupay scored to seal a trip to Swansea in the fifth round.
The build-up was overshadowed by the politicking of Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous, who stayed away due to the 1,600 ticket allocation afforded to the visitors.
While Kleanthous watched with supporters at The Hive, those in Brentford turned up the volume. But the home side were ahead inside of eight minutes, as Canos glanced in from a corner.
Barnet, who have never reached the fifth round, did threaten to equalise, particularly through Elito. But one became two by the interval. Said Benrahma curled in a free-kick and Jeanvier cushioned in on the volley.
Maupay scored the third from close range, but Tutonda gave the away fans something to cheer with a screamer from a tight angle.