Development Team coach Ross Eames felt Monday’s 4-3 defeat at Northwood underlined the huge jump from Under-18s football to first-team level his side are currently experiencing. 

A hat-trick from Matt Stevens was not enough for the young Bees, who were undone by their failure to clear their lines on more than one occasion against the Southern League Division One Central outfit at Chestnut Avenue.

And speaking afterwards, Eames, who has this season stepped up from his previous role as professional development phase lead coach, acknowledged the importance of the newly-formed Development Team in bridging the gap from Academy to senior football.

He said: “What they are going to find out now is the mental and physical side of the game, even more so.

“It can be really pretty in the academy; nice tippy-tappy football, scoring loads of goals each week, but that gap between the youth team and first team is huge. For us, doing these games is so important in their development.”

Asked what the biggest differences between the two levels were, he replied: “Mentally and as you say, physically.

“Their number nine was a big boy and as an 18-year-old you have got to deal with that. And how you deal with that is your intelligence and realising you won’t win the battle. But if you do what you are asked there will be a massive benefit to your development once you go into the next game and come across the same kind of player.”

Barnet took the lead when Stevens poked home on the run but two quick-fire goals from the Woods turned the game on its head before the 17-year-old equalised before the break with a poacher's finish.

Northwood struck twice in nine minutes after the restart to build a two-goal lead for the first time in the contest. And although Stevens nodded home to complete his treble, Barnet could not find a fourth to complete the comeback.

But Eames was not concerned by the result and instead focused on aspects of the performance which would require addressing.

He explained: “I am not too fussed about the result at all. I think the performance on the ball was fantastic and in the last 25 minutes we played some really good stuff.

“It was really effective and we played with a quick tempo, quick passing and I thought we were excellent. We have got to do better on set pieces but that is part of their development.

“This is what they are here for, these games against adults and senior sides with a lot of experience in the game already. They are still young and they are only going to get better.”

He continued: “The whole eleven were fantastic and the service to Matt was another positive. When he is in the box he is deadly. If the ball drops in the box Matt is always going to be there, we know that. I thought all the players equipped themselves tonight.”

You can read the report from the defeat by clicking here.