Barnet continued their impressive League Two form with a dominant 2–0 victory over a lacklustre Tranmere Rovers, writes Amar Dudwall at Prenton Park.
The game was a struggle throughout for Rovers who, now winless in seven league games, looked disjointed in transition and lacking any sort of quality in possession.
Their lack of confidence was apparent for the six thousand fans to see as they could not muster a shot on target in the game.
The visitors started brightly and never looked back. Within five minutes, defender Patrick Brough was forced into a superb block to deny Lee Ndlovu after the striker broke through on goal. Moments later, Danny Collinge volleyed into the side netting as Barnet piled on early pressure.
Rovers briefly threatened when Charlie Whittaker’s bursting run from deep released loanee Jayden Joseph, but the forward dragged his shot wide. That was as close as the hosts came in a poor first half that drew increasing frustration from the Prenton Park crowd.
Barnet’s skipper Anthony Hartigan pulled the strings in midfield, and it was his perfectly weighted through ball that allowed Ndlovu to open the scoring on 26 minutes, calmly slotting past Joe Murphy from just outside the area. The goal was no more than the visitors deserved.
Collinge, a constant menace from set pieces, then turned provider nine minutes later, overlapping down the right before delivering an inviting cross for Adam Senior to head home from close range. Poor defending from the home side made it all too easy for the London side, whose fans were in fine voice as Rover’s supporters began heading for the exits before half-time.
Andy Crosby’s men went in to boos at the break, still without a shot on target so he made a triple substitution to spark some life into his side, introducing Sam Finley who made his return to action after a 13-match ban for homophobic abuse towards an opposition player, whilst also bringing on Billy Blacker and Connor Jennings.
The changes brought renewed energy, but despite greater possession and effort, Rovers still lacked a cutting edge.
The away side remained disciplined and continued to threaten on the counter, with Senior almost doubling his tally on 67 minutes, only denied by a fine Murphy save.
Rovers pushed late on, with Joe Ironside and Blacker seeing efforts blocked in a goalmouth scramble, but the home side ended the game without registering a single effort on target.
Rovers manager Crosby believes his side did not do the basics well when questioned on why his side did not have a shot on target. He said “I think to have spells of possession you have to do the other side of the game well and we didn’t and we did not get the ball anywhere near enough to the wingbacks.”
Barnet’s afternoon ended on a sour note when substitute goalkeeper Henry Slicker was sent off after the final whistle for pushing Tranmere’s Norman, sparking a melee between both sides.
The result sees Tranmere slump to 19th in the table while Barnet climb into the play-off places. On this evidence, the visitors look promotion contenders and Rovers, worryingly, short of ideas.
