IRON’S BIG DAY STUNG BY BEES
Brilliant Barnet extended their unbeaten league run to 10 matches – while spoiling Jimmy Dean’s first game in charge of Scunthorpe.
Buoyed by a new owner, a new management team and six new signings the day before the game, more than 5,000 home fans turned up to watch the start of a new era on Friday night – the biggest Glanford Park crowd in almost three years.
All they witnessed, though, was the reason why the workmanlike Bees have become serious play-off contenders under Dean Brennan with Dale Gorman’s clinical double and a David Moyo header wrapping up a routine win for the visitors.
“We knew it was going to be tough and that Scunthorpe would come at us but I thought we stepped up, to a man, and fully deserved the victory,” Brennan said.
“Coming here was like the first game of the season as Scunthorpe had five-thousand fans behind them and a new manager in place.
“We didn’t pass the ball as we’d have liked, but I thought our game management was excellent. The biggest thing for us coming to teams like this is keeping the crowd quiet.”
Although Scunthorpe started brightly, Barnet went in front just after the halfhour when Gorman’s inswinging free-kick from out on the left touchline evaded everyone and nestled in the far corner of the net.
The Bees skipper doubled his side’s lead on 56 minutes, sweeping home from inside the penalty area after good work down the right by Idris Kanu.
Although debutant Gerry McDonagh got the hosts back in the game in the 62nd minute, any hopes of a Scunsaid. thorpe comeback were extinguished four minutes later when Moyo’s close-range header tamely beat keeper Owen Foster.
While this was maybe a chastening scoreline after some improved previous performances, the manner of the defeat at least leaves new boss Dean with a realistic insight into the battle the Iron face to stay in the National League this season.
“It’s frustrating to lose, but the players have gone through a brick wall and given it everything, which is a good starting point,” he
“I know it’s a cliche, but I thought the game was lost in both boxes. Barnet were better than us, so you’ve got to give them credit. It wasn’t a great game and we got sucked into a game that suited them more.
“I don’t think games against Barnet will define our fate. We’ve got two weeks now before our next game against Dagenham & Redbridge and we’ll be ready for that.”
STAR MAN: Dale Gorman (Barnet)
ATT: 5,110
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
REFEREE: Garreth Rhodes