BUSY BEES HAMMER FINAL NAIL FOR KIDDY

BARNET cemented the runners-up spot with a convincing win over already relegated Kidderminster Harriers, who attacked purposefully on occasion, but rarely threatened the home side’s superiority.

The Bees were two to the good by the interval through headed efforts from Danny Collinge and Nicke Kabamba before Luke Freeman scored his first for the club early in the second half.

Charlie Weston reduced the deficit on the hour as Kiddy briefly flickering into life but

Idris Kanu’s deflected effort from distance following a determined run from the halfway line finished the job.

“Our team performance was solid,” Barnet head coach Dean Brennan said. “I played a strong side, I didn’t want to rest people.”

Brennan’s focus quickly moved to Saturday’s home playoff semi-final against either Solihull Moors or Gateshead, adding: “It’s a huge game for the football club, I’ve told the players we are in the final furlong and we have to get to the line first.

“It’s cup football and we have to produce. We’ll respect the opposition but I know we have got some big-game players.”

Kidderminster boss Phil Brown took the opportunity to hand debuts to Seb Thompson and Noah Rubio and named three players recalled from loans to start on the bench.

Looking to the future, he said: “Very interesting, very exciting, they have a chance in the game. They put down a little marker.

“I know there was nothing to play for per se but there is always something to play for!

“It was a competitive game in the first half before we were unhinged by a mistake by a senior pro. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and to a certain extent we did.

“At 3-1, we had some chances to maybe get to 3-3 but they came and went and then late on we’re on the end of a deflected shot and it’s in the back of the net. Our season in a nutshell.”

Harriers had a freedom about their play in the early exchanges. Full-back Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain had two bursts down the right wing before delivering tempting crosses but no Kidderminster forward was on his wavelength.

From an inswinging corner by Dale Gorman, Collinge headed home to give the Bees a lead and, with half-time looming, top scorer Kabamba converted Ben Coker’s cross from the left after the full- back had found space to put in an inviting ball.

Three minutes into the restart, influential midfielder Freeman sidefooted Barnet’s third after his deft passing had cut open the Kidderminster rearguard.

Weston reduced the deficit just before the hour mark with a neat finish from close range and his team briefly rallied but the Bees were able to keep the visitors at arm’s length without unduly exerting themselves. STAR MAN: Luke Freeman (Barnet) ATT: 1,896 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Riichard Eley