Barnet strengthened their promotion push with a commanding 2-0 victory over Woking at The Hive Stadium, a result that keeps them firmly in the upper reaches of the National League. The Bees dominated for large periods, expertly exploiting Woking’s defensive frailties.
From the outset, Barnet dictated the tempo, fashioning several early opportunities. Woking’s frustration began to show in the 18th minute when Dale Gorman was booked for a foul. Barely a minute later, Barnet’s pressure told. A slickly-worked move culminated in Rhys Browne slotting home from a Nikola Tavares assist, giving the Bees a deserved 1-0 lead. Woking struggled to establish any sort of rhythm, their attacks consistently breaking down in midfield. Matt Ward’s yellow card for a foul just before half-time further compounded their woes.
The second half mirrored the first, with Barnet continuing to press forward. In the 52nd minute, Bailey Hobson doubled their advantage, capitalising on a defensive lapse to make it 2-0. This goal effectively knocked the stuffing out of Woking. Around the hour mark, both sides made a raft of substitutions, with Woking introducing fresh attacking options, including Alan Judge, and Barnet bringing on Zak Brunt, who had scored in the previous fixture between the two sides. However, these changes failed to significantly alter the flow of the game. While Woking enjoyed a brief spell of possession, they were unable to carve out any clear-cut chances. Barnet, for their part, expertly managed the game, limiting Woking’s opportunities and comfortably seeing out the victory.
The win solidifies Barnet’s position in third place in the National League table with 40 points, while Woking remain precariously positioned near the relegation zone in 18th place with 20 points. The Bees have now won two of their last four encounters against the Cards, outscoring them 5-2 in those matches.