| Venue: The Hive Stadium Date: 20-04-24 Barnet FC 4 Harriers 1 Att: 1896 (away fans: 281) |
The season ends with defeat. Now it’s time for a reset
Report: Harry211
Kidderminster Harriers ended their brief return to the Conference with a whimper rather than a bang as promotion contenders Barnet produced a competent performance to see off the away side with ease.
Two goals in both halves meant Phil Brown’s side only had a Charlie Weston goal for consolation as the Harriers failed to turn bright moments into anything more tangible. Weston’s first senior goal will provide a rare moment of magic for the Blackburn Rovers loanee, while Noah Rubio and Josh Bishop made their league bows for the Harriers. Otherwise Barnet will go into their playoff campaign on the back of a thumping win against Harriers.
Top scorer Nicke Kabamba started for the home team, as did veteran Jerome Okimo. Meanwhile it was a much changed side for the visitors as Krystian Pearce, Alex Penny and Jack Lambert were notable absentees from those signing off for the end of the season.
The game saw a competitive performance from the already-relegated Harriers. Amari Morgan-Smith appeared to be through on goal within a minute before the assistant referee belatedly raised his flag. Meanwhile debutant Seb Thompson caused no end of issues for the Bees as he made his long awaited bow. He had the best Harriers chance as he raced on to a Harriers break from a wasted Barnet corner, but was flagged offside when he got on to a Morgan-Smith ball from the right.
Yet runners up Barnet managed to edge ahead just after the half hour mark. A corner from the left landed in front of the six yard box which Danny Collinge headed past Dibble with ease. Ten minutes later Barnet had doubled the lead.
A cross from the left was met by the Barnet marksman Kabamba who rushed on to the ball and appeared to flick it past Dibble into the Harriers net.
It was all too easy.
HT: 2 – 0
Harriers fans could be forgiven for hoping for better from the second half yet three minutes after the referee had got it underway, they were three behind. Veteran winger Luke Freeman made the most of some scrappy play inside the Harriers’ box as he turned in the ball at the far post, much to the disappointment of the travelling support behind the goal.
The Harriers’ continued to be competitive. Rubio was subbed for Reiss McNally to shore up the Harriers’ defence as Phil Brown looked to blood the youth. In truth neither youngster looked out of place, nor did they light up the game.
There was one chance for an imperious youngster to get his plaudits, however. A pull back from the right from a marauding Ashley Hemmings found Weston whose shot easily beat the Barnet keeper Josh Keeley. It’s the least he deserves from a bright loan spell. Yet Harriers couldn’t use the goal to kick on.
Josh Bishop made his bow but otherwise the side didn’t spark in to life during the dead rubber. The closest they came was a Morgan-Smith effort during stoppage time which glanced the post.
The admirable travelling fans, who have travelled in great number all season, could be forgiven for thinking their punishment was over. However deep into stoppage time Idris Kanu raced towards’ Bishop’s goal and his shot span wildly off Matt Preston in to his goal. A goal he could have done nothing about.
There will a review of the season coming, but in truth today’s curtain dropper was typical of the season; not bad but never good enough. Phil Brown, or his successor, will have their work cut out.
FT: 4 – 1
Goals for Barnet: Collinge 33, Kabamba 44, Freeman 48, Kanu 94
Goal for Harriers: Weston 60
The Harriers Online MotM is: Seb Thompson
Talk about the game here
Latest table and stats here
| Barnet FC | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
| Keeley | ||||
| Cropper | ||||
| Coker | ||||
| Collinge |  | |||
| Freeman | | |||
| Okimo |  | 62 | ||
| Hartigan | ||||
| Gorman | ||||
| Kabamba | |  | 62 | |
| Brunt |  | 71 | ||
| Kanu | | |||
| Subs: | ||||
| Walker | ||||
| Hall-Johnson | ||||
| O’Donkor |  | 62 | ||
| Oluwo |  | 62 | ||
| Matejko |  | 71 | ||
| Harriers | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
| Dibble | | 73 | ||
| Robinson | ||||
| Richards | ||||
| Oxlade-Chamberlain |  | |||
| Preston | ||||
| Weston | | |||
| Rubio | | 54 | ||
| Brown | ||||
| Morgan-Smith | ||||
| Hemmings | ||||
| Thompson | | 66 | ||
| Subs: | ||||
| Bishop | | 73 | ||
| McNally | | 54 | ||
| Hewett | ||||
| Griffiths | ||||
| Hall | | 66 | ||
| Referee: | ||||
| Mr Richard Eley | ||||
| Derby | ||||