Barnet (H) Match Preview

Chelmsford City FC V Barnet, Pre-Season Friendly, Melbourne Community Stadium, Monday 22^nd July 2024, 7:45pm kick-off.

Chelmsford City will host Barnet at Melbourne Community Stadium on Monday evening, in what will be the club’s first game on home soil of the 2024-25 campaign.

As well as playing at home for the first time so far this season, Robbie Simpson’s players will also have the opportunity to test themselves against higher level opposition for the first time in their current pre-season campaign. Despite experiencing play-off semi-final heartache last season, Barnet secured a second-place finish in the 23-24 National League standings and were one of the division above’s most impressive performing sides.

With this in mind, Monday’s match promises to be the first of two high-quality games of football which are set to be played in front of the City faithful this week, with League Two side MK Dons making the journey to Essex on Wednesday.

Here’s all that Clarets supporters need to know ahead of the game…

Opposition:

Barnet boss Dean Brennan’s preparations to take his side one step further than last season have started positively over the past few weeks. The Bees have recorded maximum wins from the four pre-season friendlies which they have contested so far against Hitchin, MK Dons, Chesham, and Hemel Hempstead.

Summer signings Rhys Browne and Billy Clifford have both started as they mean to go on in Brennan’s side – both have found the back of the net during the runouts which they have participated in so far. Another new arrival in Brennan’s side who has also enjoyed plenty of pre-season minutes is winger Jermaine Francis. Francis’ move to The Hive earlier this summer sealed his departure from Melbourne Community Stadium after an outstanding 23-24 season playing in Claret and White, in which he provided 18 National League South goals and assists.

Another former Claret set for a return to his old stomping ground on Monday is Ade Oluwo. Before joining Barnet last year, the defender had made 85 appearances in Claret during his two seasons playing under Robbie Simpson. The 24-year-old scored 3 goals and made 28 National League appearances last season during an impressive debut campaign in a Barnet shirt.

Monday’s game will also mark the first time that the Clarets and the Bees have met since locking horns in the FA Cup First Round two seasons ago. Charlie Ruff struck late on at The Hive to take the tie to a replay at Melbourne Community Stadium, which Brennan’s Barnet side ran out of as 1-0 winners in front of a crowd of 3,015. Highlights of the draw at The Hive can be seen below.