In a thrilling yet one-sided affair at Boundary Park, Barnet romped to a 3-0 victory over Oldham Athletic, extending their undefeated streak to 19 matches. The English National League encounter saw the visitors showcase their attacking prowess, capitalising on defensive vulnerabilities to net three crucial goals in a commanding performance.
The first half was a tightly contested, goalless affair with both sides creating opportunities but ultimately failing to find the back of the net. Idris Kanu of Barnet was booked in the 47th minute for a foul, while neither team managed to break the deadlock before the interval.
However, the complexion of the match dramatically shifted in the second half. Zak Brunt opened the scoring for Barnet in the 50th minute, expertly converting a chance created by Mark Shelton’s assist. Barely a minute later, Callum Stead doubled the lead, catching the Oldham Athletic defence off guard and leaving them reeling. Josh Kay’s yellow card in the 56th minute compounded the hosts’ misery, as they struggled to mount a meaningful response to Barnet’s swift strikes.
Looking to inject fresh impetus, Oldham Athletic made a tactical substitution in the 60th minute, replacing Josh Lundstram with Billy Waters in a forward-for-midfielder switch. Despite this, they couldn’t stem the tide of Barnet’s attacking waves. The visitors further consolidated their advantage when Adebola Oluwo, who had come on as a substitute for Zak Brunt in the 75th minute, scored the third goal in the 84th minute. Anthony Hartigan’s assist played a crucial role in the build-up to this decisive strike, underscoring Barnet’s tactical acumen and attacking flair.
The final minutes saw Barnet make a series of substitutions to maintain their rhythm and protect their lead. Dominic Telford replaced Lee Ndlovu, while Billy Clifford came on for Ryan Glover, and eventually, Harry Chapman and Jordan Cropper were introduced for Idris Kanu and Callum Stead, respectively, as the visitors comfortably saw out the match.
This resounding victory solidified Barnet’s position at the top of the English National League standings, with 76 points from 35 matches, maintaining a substantial 19-point lead over the second-placed team. In contrast, Oldham Athletic remained fifth, with 57 points from 34 games, their winless streak now stretching to four matches. The outcome not only highlighted Barnet’s dominance but also outlined the challenges Oldham Athletic must address to bridge the gap with the league leaders.