The Kabamba And Stead Show
Partners in crime seal another three points for the Bees
A rare Saturday train journey to The Hive last weekend, a month top heavy for me watching Barnet FC and if you add in an Aldershot vs York City as well it’s been National League top heavy.
Those of you who know me well the blogging journey I try to keep everything varied for the sake of my readers, hence why this blog is a very separate one to the main site, www.footballwriting.co.uk.
The chance for a few beers before kick off with Nick Patel and Lee Crocker was taken ahead of what was hopefully a decent sized crowd. I’ll be honest and had the game not been the fantastic offer given out by the club I wouldn’t have been there.
Literally the reasons above are why, it’s been a top heavy month that my readers won’t want to read about Barnet FC all the time, they’re not all Bees fans hence the variety I like to keep things fresh and me also being able to see a lot of different players and clubs.
Anyway, a nice sunny day ready to welcome an increased level of support, deserved for a side who have worked their way to the top of the fledgling table and returning home after consecutive away wins.
Not surprisingly, the visitors were happy to sit in and let the Bees dominate possession whilst trying to catch them on the break. Not much of note punctuated the first half, the final ball as per the second half at Aldershot was a yard too far at times, Callum Stead though almost broke the deadline bang on half time but not enough curl on the ball saw his effort hit the post and the rebound skied over.
An early change in the second half saw Nicke Kabamba introduced ten minutes in and two minutes later the striker had his third goal in as many games.
A slick move through the middle of the park saw the ball out to Zak Brunt from Kabamba, the ball returned to the striker inside the box and falling over the ball went with the big man and into the net.
Despite Fylde needing to come out and try to get something from the game it looked increasingly likely they would be going home with nothing and that was confirmed in stoppage time when an inch perfect cross from Ben Coker on the overlap found Stead to tap in at the far post to seal the win and keep the Bees on top of the table and two points clear to go into October.
A little bit of frustration maybe the scoreline wasn’t higher but the visitors deserved credit for making it hard, they won’t be the last team to do that at The Hive.
Despite that it didn’t stop the Bees making it six win from six at home and five wins in a row total, three successive clean sheets too. Nick Hayes might have gotten away with one in the first half which should have been a penalty against but not much trouble other than that.
The side certainly looked a lot more fluid with the introduction of Kabamba up top, Stead working hard as always but as we know much better running at players who don’t want to be backtracking.
I think it’s fair to say both Harry Chapman and Ryan Glover are playing catch up without a proper pre-season for either and the run of games look to be catching up on the pair. Both key players for us this year and will no doubt benefit from a couple of free midweeks coming.
Nik Tavares, three 90 minutes in a row is getting to the levels we hope he can maintain. We’re all aware of how important he is, another who needs the cotton wool treatment but again another who will benefit from the free midweek’s, the versatility of his will be so key for the entire season.
Over 2400 took up the ‘Fylde for a fiver’ offer, I hope there are plenty within that number that come back this coming weekend for the visit of Boston Utd, there isn’t much more the team can do on the pitch winning games and being the side at the top of the tree, the lads deserve it!
A couple of drinks afterwards, firstly with Raj Gathani (thank you mate!) and then with the gaffer and part of his team. Certainly wouldn’t be getting that lucky at pretty much any level above the National League, have to make the most of the opportunities…..