By Steve Pearce

Kenlock strike proves decisive as Bart makes pre-season bow

Myles Kenlock’s excellent finish midway through the second-half gave Town the win at The Hive.

The defender latched on to good work by Gwion Edwards down the left before burying his shot into the bottom corner.

Dan Sweeney was denied by a combination of Dean Gerken and the post in the last stages as Town’s build up to a new Championship campaign continues.

Bartosz Bialkowski made his first appearance of pre-season after returning from the World Cup as Town took National League opposition.

Flynn Downes almost found Freddie Sears with a neat ball after Town had a spell of possession while at the other end, a trialist for Barnet was just wide with an effort from the edge of the box.

Jordan Roberts was inches away from putting Town ahead on 17 minutes, robbing the home side of possession but firing wide with a right foot strike, then Kenlock cleared the danger from Joe Payne’s excellent cross.

Grant Ward couldn’t take advantage of Downes’ clever pass down the right, Sears the same after an even better pass from deep from Martyn Waghorn.

Jack Taylor sent in a free-kick that begged to be met by a Barnet head but the ball escaped all, then Town were handed a free-kick on the edge of the home box,

Waghorn beating the wall but finding the sidenetting just before the break.
Blues made three changes at half-time, with Edwards, Andre Dozzell and Tristan Nydam all entering the fray.

Edwards wasn’t far away from making an immediate impact, Waghorn’s cross beating him at the far post, then Edwards’ pace won a free-kick that Waghorn sent towards the top corner but ‘keeper Mark Cousins was equal to the task.

Dean Gerken replaced Bialkowski on the hour and on 67 minutes, Town edged in front, Edwards the architect, Kenlock providing a quality finish, arrowing the ball into the far corner.

Edwards had a shot blocked after cutting in from the left before Town gave a run out to the rest of the travelling squad including Academy scholar Bailey Clements.

Waghorn failed to find Jordan Spence as Town threatened a second on the break, Gerken and the post keeping out Sweeney at the other end with Waghorn finishing the action of note with a 40 yarder going just over.  
 
Town: Bialkowski (Gerken 60), Emmanuel (Ndaba 73), Kenlock (Clements 73), Woolfenden, Chambers (Spence 73), Downes (Nydam 46), Skuse, Ward (Dozzell 46), Roberts (Folami 73), Sears (Edwards 46), Waghorn.