SHOTS WILT AS THE BEES FINISH WITH A FLOURISH

AFTER three consecutive league defeats Barnet returned to winning ways with a comfortable victory over stumbling Aldershot.

Ryan Glover had earlier cancelled out Harry Pritchard’s first-half opener for Barnet, only for three goals in the space of 18 minutes from Harry Smith, former Aldershot striker Idris Kanu and Courtney Senior to wrap up a handsome victory.

“It was a good performance from us, sustained over the 90 minutes, and we showed character when they came back at one-all,” said delighted Barnet boss Dean Brennan.

“We didn’t lose our discipline, we kept to our shape and we out-run our opposition.

“I’m a bit disappointed that we didn’t keep a clean sheet but all-in-all that was a good display and we comfortably won the game.”

Midfielder Ryan De Havilland had twice gone close to giving Barnet an early lead before a poorly executed punch clear by Shots keeper Lucas Ashby-Hammond on 15 minutes allowed Pritchard to lob the ball into an unguarded net.

Striker Jake Hutchinson cut a lonely and isolated figure up front for Aldershot as they were rarely able to formulate moves that far up the pitch.

Their best outlet was Glover on the left wing who took the ball at speed towards the Barnet goal but his team-mates were rarely on his wavelength.

The Bees were good value for their lead at the interval and a revival from the visitors seemed unlikely. Although they improved a fraction in the second half, it was a surprise when they levelled.

On the stroke of the hour, Glover finished a fine Shots move with a convincing finish, one which started with a defence-splitting pass by the centre-back Tyler Cordner.

Aldershot then enjoyed a brief spell when they were on top but the Bees were quick to respond and soon regained their authority with Smith heading home at the far post in text book fashion from a tempting delivery from the right by Danny Collinge.

The striker, on loan from near neighbours Leyton Orient, now has six goals in six matches for Barnet.

The visitors were level for just five minutes and the game would quickly drift away from them.

Kanu scored with a crisp shot on 76 minutes and then substitute Senior netted with his first touch, a delightful dink over an onrushing keeper, to put the Bees out of sight.

Aldershot head coach Ross McNeilly was frank when he said: “We conceded weak and sloppy goals, we didn’t defend well enough. We were flat and we weren’t on it.

“We were very lucky to be only one goal down at half-time. We haven’t made them work particularly hard today and a few home truths were told in the dressing room.”