Full-time: Barnet 4-0 Chelmsford City
National League leaders Barnet booked their place in the FA Cup first round after beating Chelmsford City 4-0 at the Hive London on Saturday afternoon.
During the opening half of his side’s first FA Cup game of the 24-25 campaign, Callum Stead continued the rich goalscoring form he has shown in the league this season. Forward Stead scored in the 26th and 42nd minute to complete a first half brace and give his side a 2-0 advantage going into the break.
City started the second half brightly in their search to half the Bees’ lead; both Kane Crichlow and Osman Foyo came close to finding the back of the net in the early stages of the second period. At the other end, Bailey Hobson’s shot hit the woodwork for Dean Brennan’s side.
However, referee Paul Johnson’s decision to show Clarets midfielder Arthur Penney a 68th minute red card turned the game on its head. Following Penney’s dismissal, Barnet doubled their two-goal lead in the final 15 minutes of the match when substitutes Zak Brunt and Ryan Glover got on the scoresheet.
Robbie Simpson left his starting XI unchanged from last week’s 4-2 win over Eastbourne Borough. As per FA Cup rules, the Clarets were allowed to name seven players on the substitutes’ bench instead of the usual five. Club captain Cameron James was one of these seven substitutes and featured in a Chelmsford City matchday squad for the first time this season and continued to step up his recovery from injury.
City came out of the blocks quickly and created the first goalscoring opportunity of the game inside the opening three minutes. Colchester United loanee Oscar Thorn delivered a cross from the right flank which picked out Jordan Greenidge inside the Barnet penalty area. Forward Greenidge rose highest and connected with Thorn’s delivery, but was unable to guide his header the right side of the post.
Brennan’s men grew into the game after being subjected to this early scare by Greenidge, and began to control possession as the first half progressed. The National League leaders eventually showed their ruthlessness in the 26th minute when Stead converted his team’s first big chance of the afternoon. A delivery from the left-hand-side was headed back across goal by Nicke Kabamba, which Stead turned home at the back post from five-yards out.
The Bees doubled their lead before the break when Stead completed his brace in the 42nd minute. Kabamba was involved yet again, this time flicking a header on to Hobson, who got behind the Clarets’ defence. Hobson then cut back a cross from the byline which found Stead in the penalty area, who guided a low effort into the bottom corner of the net.
An end-to-end opening 10 minutes of the second period saw both sides come close to scoring goals. Within the first minute of the half, Crichlow cut inside from the left flank and bent a shot towards goal which ended up the wrong side of the Barnet post by a matter of inches. Six minutes later, Barnet came close at the other end when Hobson showed quick feet inside the penalty area to beat several City defenders before unleashing a shot which struck the crossbar. At the other end, Foyo was able to burst past the Barnet backline in the 60th minute and get a sight of the goal, but goalkeeper Nick Hayes produced a brave piece of goalkeeping to claim the ball from Foyo’s feet.
The competitive second half at the Hive London was turned on its head by referee Johnson, who handed Barnet a numerical advantage when he sent Penney off in the 68th minute. Penney mistimed a challenge in the middle of the pitch on Bees substitute Glover and caught the 23-year-old with a late, low challenge. Much to the surprise of the City dugout, Johnson proceeded to pull out a red card for a foul which some officials might have deemed worthy of only a bookable offence instead.
Barnet twice exploited their numerical in the closing stages of the second half when substitutes Glover and Brunt got on the scoresheet. Glover notched his side’s third goal of the afternoon in the 75th minute when he finished off a clinical counterattack following a City corner, which saw the midfielder convert Brunt’s cross at the back post.
In the 90th minute, Barnet produced another clinical counterattack which resulted in the hosts scoring their fourth and final goal of the day. This time, Brunt turned from provider to goalscorer when he was picked out at the back post by a ball across goal, before he lifted the ball over Ted Collins and scored.
You were incredible today, Clarets 👏
— Chelmsford City FC (@OfficialClarets) October 12, 2024
Thank you for your fantastic support. We felt the backing that the 545 of you in the away end gave us ❤️ #ClaretsTogether pic.twitter.com/47oOH1F0RC
Saturday’s defeat has brought City’s 2024-25 FA Cup campaign to an end. The Clarets secured their place in the fourth round qualifying following wins against Tilbury and Bromsgrove Sporting, but were unable to earn a place in the first round for the first time since 2022-23. Simpson’s squad return to National League South action next week when they welcome league leaders Farnborough to the EMJ Community Stadium.
Barnet XI: Hayes (GK); Coker (Glover 61’), Kabamba, Stead (Cropper 76’), Kanu (Chapman 76’), Hartigan, Shelton (Brunt 61’), Oluwo, Tavares (Grimwood 78’), Kenlock, Hobson.
Unused substitutes: Bellagambi (GK), Kizzi.
Yellow cards: Oluwo, Brennan (Manager)
Chelmsford City XI: Collins (GK); Thorn (Hyde 82’), Appiah, Gale, Oguntayo (James 58’); Donaldson, Penney; Foyo, Ruff © (Tamplin 87’), Crichlow (Kalala 58’); Greenidge (Hockey 72’).
Unused substitutes: Askew (GK), Williams.
Yellow cards: Ruff
Red cards: Penney
Match Officials: Paul Johnson (Referee), Alex Mathieson (Assistant Referee), David Harrison (Assistant Referee), Kevin Howick (Fourth Official).
Attendance: 1503 (545 away)
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