BEES BUZZ BUT BAGGIES PROVE JUST TOO STRONG

BARNET 0 WEST BROM 3

JOHN STILL’s reign at Barnet began with a preseason defeat at home to Championship opposition.

West Brom ran out comfortable winners as Bees fans got the chance to look at their re-shaped squad.

The new Barnet boss has been busy assembling a side he will hope can push for promotion following the club’s relegation.

Still and opposite number Darren Moore both selected strong starting line-ups at The Hive but neither outfit could break the deadlock in a scoreless first-half.

West Brom, featuring eight players with Premier League experience, had the bulk of the play but Shaq Coulthirst nearly gave the Bees a lead when his powerful shot hit an upright in the 36th minute.

Barnet started the match with six new signings and welcomed back Elliott Johnson after the full-back had missed the bulk of last season with a serious injury.

Johnson was eager to impress and did so with his sound defending and his willingness to push forward to deliver telling crosses.

He was up against the visitors’ most dangerous forward with Johnson and Jon Leko enjoying a keenly fought contest down Barnet’s left flank.

Andre Boucard linked the play well for the Bees despite the presence of the vastly experienced Gareth Barry in midfield.

Barnet’s Craig Robson then needed to be alert on the half hour mark to execute a goal-line clearance to keep out Martin Crainie’s goalbound effort.

Jay Rodriguez and Matt Phillips were then wasteful for the Baggies, failing the convert good chances, but it be would Coulthirst who would go close to opening the scoring when his persistence created an opportunity with the woodwork saving the Baggies blushes.

Both managers made multiple changes at the break, few escaping the cull with many youth players joining the fray.

Substitute Kyle Edwards gave the visitors the lead in the 67th minute when he cut inside before releasing a powerful shot from 20 yards that found the top-corner.

In the 73rd minute centreback Robson up ended Hal Robson-Kanu with the striker comfortably converting the resulting spot kick to double the visitors’ advantage.

The Bees responded with Fumnaya Shomotun hitting the side netting moments later but in the 77th minute Robson-Kanu extended the Baggies lead with a crisp finish after some neat interplay.

David Tutonda was the pick of Barnet’s second-half substitutes with a committed display down the left flank.