Dog Sit

Barnet 2-2 Luton Town (Friendly)

Regardless of what the majority of England fans will tell you, the World Cup is still not yet over, we are already three weeks into pre-season and whilst memories (bad) will slowly hopefully fade of England’s semi-final exit to Argentina on Wednesday night, one way of getting over them is turning attention to club football, and the new campaign ahead.

I’m off to Barnet today. It’s a bit of a road trip south again and I’ve took this match as I need to get back to dog sit as the wife is out on the piss tonight, a 1pm kick off at the Hive, I’ll be back in blighty for teatime.

Luton Town are the visitors, the Hatters finishing seventh last season in League One, agonisingly close to the playoffs under Jack Wilshere who at least won the EFL trophy (in his first season as top dog) to bring home some silverware to Kenilworth Road.

They won their first friendly at Hitchin Town 5-0 last weekend, whilst Barnet also faced similar opposition to open up their summer, winning 1-0 at Top Field, a further tedious link is that I also saw Hitchin midweek in a 2-0 defeat by Dagenham.

The Bees drew 2-2 with the Hornets of Watford last time out having beaten Hemel Hempstead Town on Saturday gone, Dean Brennan’s side finished a commendable eighth in their first season back in League Two after the year previous taking the National League championship with over 100 points after seven seasons outside the football league.

Barnet have signed goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond from Stevenage, Charlie Lakin and Brandon Comley from Walsall, Will Wright from Swindon, Zac Williams comes in from Crewe, as does Tom Knowles from Forest Green, a busy summers window also includes the arrivals of Jack Maskell from Darlington, Isiah Noel Williams from Hemel, and Craig Farquhar who’s a young defender released by Crystal Palace.

As for Luton, they have been busy too, Kasey Palmer looks a cracking acquisition from Hull City whilst Gideon Kodua moves north from West Ham, George Johnston is a free signing from Bolton Wanderers and Harrison Ashby heads in on loan from Newcastle.

The Venue

I set off as early as 9am to ensure I got somewhere close to the ground to park, arriving at 11 a good two hours before kick-off, but I needn’t have bothered to rush, the car park at the Hive has plenty of room and you can pay on the day, as I walk through the complex barriers sandwiched in between the semi-detached houses of Edgware on Camrose Avenue, I’ve been here before (in the dark) but under blue skies it looks so much better, fantastic facilities, a proper community centre of football with plenty of 4g pitches and a couple of grass pitches that despite the dry weather are in fabulous condition, pleasantly green and well mowed.

At the middle of it all, as a London Underground train goes by in the background, is the Hive Stadium, modern, sleek, floodlights tall, two big newly built metal stands with orange and black seating, one end is open and there’s black netting to stop people peering through the car park to get a free view of the pitch, but you can see through the netting, so it’s not doing a very good job.

There’s scar music playing over the tannoy and there’s folk sat in their new replica shirts outside the club bar, a friendly atmosphere as I nip to what I think is the gents, a toilet on the outside walls of the ground are in actual fact mixed sex, to my surprise when a lady appears outside my urinal.

I’ve forgotten my pen, so nip inside the club shop and get two brightly coloured orange Barnet FC labelled biros for £7.50, before walking around to what is known as the Legends Stand. The West Stand of the stadium is the biggest of all three, the North Terrace next to my left looks similar and has a small section of Luton fans seated within two blocks, opposite is a quirky but small sitting area which houses the players dugouts and press benches in front of the pitch long clubhouse, as well as some family space, although there’s not much cover, then to the right of that, no cover at all, as you can see through the netting behind the goal right into the car park where spaces are still available.

The Game

I’ve had a sip of tea and ate a mint aero, sat at the top row where there’s a bit of a chilly breeze under pleasant skies, as the game begins with Barnet in orange, Luton in all white, two new kits on show I’m told, as the home side start well against stuttering opponents, who are a little behind in their pre-season scheduling so far.

Barnet have played three games to Luton’s one and they look hungrier from the start as unforced errors are made by the visitors. It’s been mostly one way traffic as Nnamdi Ofoborh runs forward powerfully, he unleashes a shot from the edge of the box which trickles goalwards, but it’s right in the corner as Josh Keeley is caught by surprise, full stretch, after six minutes, he can’t keep it out, 1-0 to the home side.

Luton do improve and look a menace through the speedy Gideon Kodua on the left, whilst Nakhi Wells has an audacious attempt from range, trying to chip the keeper, his effort flicks the top of the crossbar from a good 35 yards out.

It’s entertaining as Danny Collinge heads from a corner agonisingly wide at the other end, but it’s open, and Luton have one chance too many gifted to them, Isiah Jones who looks brilliant at right back pushing forward, forcing a good stop from Ashby-Hammond, before Nakhi Wells does what he does best, as he’s played in to slot low and level up on the stroke of half time.

The Score

All but one of Luton’s players are changed at the break as young teen centre half Christian Chigoze re-appears with ten new team-mates. Barnet in contrast make just one change as Tshimanga comes on for Maskell, and it’s Luton for the early periods who dictate, Jayden Luker who did well on loan at Notts County last season, is a lovely looking footballer to watch, whilst Shayden Morris on the right wing has the beating of his marker every time he gets it.

There’s more subs on the hour as Barnet this time call for reinforcements, at least eight new names appear and that causes unsettlement in the match again, but a string of Luton corners leads to Luker netting at the back post, after a header down finds him in space, he blasts home from close range to give his side the lead on 72.

Defensive frailties however are the order of the day for Luton who never really convince in their back line, Barnet don’t have to wait too long for a cross into the box to cause havoc, eventually the ball bouncing down to Tshimonga who levels from close range, the Hatters having their lead lasting for just five minutes.

There’s a couple of sniffs late on as Luker stands up a brilliant chip to the back post where Jordan Clark is free, he gets his header all wrong and misses the best chance to win the game, in the end it’s a worthy workout draw as both teams shake and I head off to get back for the dog.

The Stars

Barnet had a lot offer and in the first half especially, impressed from back to front, Collinge and Tavares comfortable playing out from defence at centre half, out wide the leggy Romoney Crichlow had moments down the left whilst Tom Knowles grafted hard floating behind Jack Maskell in attack.

Their second half team was more combative and powerful than their intricate looking first half cousins, Tshimanga a nuisance up front whilst Noel-Williams and Siaw provided threat on the break.

It was Luton’s individuals however who impressed me most. Young Gideon Kodua exploded with pace out left and he looks a really exciting capture from West Ham’s youth academy, whilst Isiah Jones from right back provided an athletic and speedy alternative attacking option with brilliant quick feet.

I actually really like a number of Jack Wilshere’s midfielders, in Jordan Clark, George Saville and Liam Walsh they have combative ball winners who are willing to put a shift in for their shirt, in Sverre Sandal they have a huge Norwegian presence who comes looking for the ball and doesn’t mind getting stuck in, sitting in front of the back four.

Kasey Palmer was one in the first half who looked better, fitter, more polished and stronger than the rest, he could be key to Luton having a really good campaign this season having stepped down a level from the Championship, but so to could Jayden Luker who after a good year on loan in League Two, is as elegant as they come when in possession, the 21-year-old had number ten on his back and carried the ball with confidence, always seemed to make the right choice and did it all with a bit of guile which made him very easy on the eye.

Special mention for Shayden Morris who’s been at the likes of Fleetwood and Aberdeen previously and never really pulled up trees. He’s a throwback right winger who likes to take on his man, his pace electric, he did the simple stuff well, getting to the by-line and crossing low, what’s not to love about an old fashioned winger doing his thing?

Finally, Luton played a few teenagers including left back Harry Fox, a left footed right winger in Jake Richards, midfielder Zacharias Ioannides and the best of all, centre back Christian Chigoze, great to see their Manager giving youth a chance, let's hope one or two break into the side next season.

The Verdict

If you've not been to Barnet yet you might get a nice surprise. It maybe a modern facility but it has its quirks and is there's plenty to look at, if your eyes get distracted from the football.

On the pitch wasn't bad either, plenty of opportunity, plenty of goals, an open game as Luton looked to attack out wide, whilst Barnet hoped to counter quickly, I think both will do ok this season in their respective divisions, and who knows, if they can go one step better than last year and both reach the playoffs, I think that would be a satisfactory campaign all around.

The Teams

Barnet: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Danny Collinge (Craig Farquahar 62), Nikola Tavares (Zac Williams 62), Myles Kenlock (Adam Senior 62), Kane Smith (Trialist 63), Nnambi Ofoborh (Bright Siaw 62), Will Wright (Trialist 63), Romoney Crichlow (Isiah Noel-Williams 63), Tom Knowles (Charlie Lakin 62), Trialist (Trialist 63), Jack Maskell (Kabongo Tshimanga 46).

Luton Town: Josh Keeley (James Shea 46), Isiah Jones (Zacharias Ioannides 46), Christian Chigoze, George Johnston (Hakeem Odoffin 46), Harry Fox (Finley Evans 46), Liam Walsh (Jordan Clark 46), Sverre Sandal (George Saville 46), Kasey Palmer (Joe Johnson 46), Gideon Kodua (Jayden Luker 46), Jake Richards (Shayden Morris 46), Nakhi Wells (Devante Cole 46).

1:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 18th July 2026, The Hive, London (1,500).