Sutton United 1 : 3 Barnet

Barnet’s wait for a return to the football league goes on, all they need is a point and that secures them the title accompanied by promotion.

What began as an optimistic Easter Monday afternoon, with drama all over the pitch, ended with cheers and fist bumps from Dean Brennan, to a jubilant away end.

 

Barnet kept their line-up similar to the one that started on Easter Friday, Idris Kanu out of the squad due to a reoccurring injury and Zak Brunt saw himself demoted to the bench.

For Sutton the same formation carried them into the game with the only change being that of Harry Ransom who was replaced by 23 year old Hayden Muller.

It was all smiles in South London, as the managers exchanged a heartfelt handshake and hug, meanwhile the teams changed ends so they both attacked their supporters in the first half.

Both sides came out aggressively and it was a cagey affair, end-to-end, however Barnet got in front less than 10 minutes into the game as Mark Shelton shot from just inside the box and the Barnet players sprinted to the away end.

Dean Brennan was booked after passionately protesting a denied Sutton penalty, Lewis Simper was brought down by Barnet’s keeper, as the Sutton manager rushed out and nearly took the aggression out on the water bottles.

Sutton’s Nadesan played a great ball into Kain Adom whose shot hit a Barnet hand, penalty awarded. Despite the keeper getting a hand to it, Odelusi scored.

After an intensely competitive first half, the second 45 minutes followed even better action, a shot dragged wide after a clever back heel set up for Shelton was applauded by the travelling fans.

A throw-in led to a decisive moment, a penalty in Barnet’s favour, a red card for Suttons captain Tyler French, and a composed spot kick by Sheldon.

Oldham did tie up their game with York, with Bees fans spurring on The Latics to get another goal and hand Barnet their long awaited promotion, however the wait goes on.

From another set-piece, Barnet scored, this time through a powerful heading from Oluwu, securing all three points for the visitors and only needing one point from their remaining two matches.

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