Bees battle to victory against Wood (From Times Series)

Barnet complete their pre-season campaign with a 3-2 win against Boreham Wood

4:49pm Saturday 4th August 2012 in Sport

It may have been a pre-season friendly in name, but Barnet were given a physical test in their 3-2 victory against Boreham Wood.

Wood had gone ahead through a Charlie O’Loughlin header but the Bees draw level as Clovis Kamdjo touched home a free-kick from close range.

Ian Allinson’s men retook the lead late into the first half through Inih Effiong only to see Andy Yiadom equalise within two minutes of the restart.

Yiadom then grabbed what proved to be the winner as he fired in after beating several defenders.

Although three goals were scored by half-time, it was a fairly close opening 45 minutes with both sides unable to create many clear cut chances.

Graeme Montgomery was first to come close as his curling strike narrowly went passed Liam O’Brien’s top corner.

Wood looked the better side early on and they took the lead just before the quarter hour as a corner from David Hutton was headed home by centre-back O’Loughlin.

Barnet improved following the goal but were still finding it difficult to break down the host’s defence and both sides continued to produce robust challenges.

Omer Riza came close for the home side as his low strike forced O’Brien into a good reaction save.

Oliver Lee sent a shot from distance into the hands of James Russell before the Bees rattled the woodwork.

Good work from Yaidom allowed Ricky Holmes time to shot. His effort bounced down off the crossbar but the dall was deemed not to have crossed the line.

However, the Bees did draw level soon after as a free-kick from Anthony Edgar was turned in by Kamdjo.

As the half drew to a close, Wood retook the lead. Hutton again the provider as his cross allowed Effiong to loop a header over O’Brien.

In a change to the norm during pre-season, there were no substitutions made by the Bees at the break.

Whatever Mark Robson said to his players at the interval had the desired effect as Barnet drew level within two minutes of the restart.

Yiadom had moved in from the right flank and collected the ball in the area. He took a quick touch and curled the ball James Russell in the Wood goal.

The Bees passed the ball quicker after the break but thought they had fallen behind once again as Riza smashed home, but the linesman had already flagged for offside.

Barnet then grabbed the lead for the first time in the contest. A cross field pass from Lee was collected by Yiadom and he beat three defenders before firing home.

Robson’s men came close to extending their lead as Nurse saw a header saved before Holmes hit an effort over the bar.

An altercation between Mark Jones and Ahmed Abdulla saw both players having to be separated and Robson responded by taking off Abdulla with Curtis Weston his replacement.

The Bees managed to see the game out see out but Wood certainly gave a good account of themselves throughout the 90 minutes. Barnet: O'Brien, Jose, Fortune, Kamdjo, Brown; Yiadom, Lee, Abdulla, Edgar, Nurse, Holmes.

Barnet substitutes: Hyde, Uchechi, Johnson, Vilhete, Cowley, McClusky, Gambin, Weston.

Boreham Wood: Russell, Nunn, Jones, Noto, O'Loughlin, Reynolds, Hutton, Isaac, Riza, Effiong, Montgomery.

Boreham Wood Substitutes: Close, Buchanan, Scott-Morris, Lewis. Hastings.