Barnet secured a vital 3-1 away victory over Bristol Rovers on Saturday, overturning an early deficit to maintain their unbeaten start to the League Two season. The win at the Memorial Stadium keeps the Bees second in the table, just one point behind leaders Salford City with 18 points from eight games. Their record of five wins and three draws from those eight games underlines their strong start.
Ellis Harrison gave the hosts a fourth-minute lead, finishing a chance created by Shaq Forde. Barnet responded well but saw Fabrizio Cavegn miss several opportunities to level the score before the break. Goalkeeper Matthew Cox preserved the one-goal margin with a key save from Forde in the second half.
Late surge seals the points
Adam Senior finally equalised for Barnet from close range in the 79th minute, assisted by Kabongo Tshimanga. Zac Williams then put the visitors ahead seven minutes later with a first-time strike into the top corner. The match turned further in Barnet's favour when Bristol Rovers' Tommy Leigh was sent off for a lunging tackle with five minutes remaining. Tshimanga, the club's top scorer this season with 16 goals, sealed the three points in the fifth minute of added time, tapping in a cross from Damola Ajayi.
The result extends Barnet's unbeaten run to five matches, a sequence of three wins and two draws. They have scored 20 goals this campaign while conceding 11, giving them a goal difference of plus nine. Attention now turns to their next fixture, an away match against 13th-placed Tranmere on Saturday 17 October.
First reported at Barnet FC
Bristol Rovers defender Clinton Mola said his side's 3-1 defeat to Barnet was "a tough one to take" after they dominated for long periods. Mola told the club's media that Rovers felt on top and could have extended their lead before a lapse in concentration. Barnet, who are second in League Two with 21 points from nine games, next face Swindon Town on October 20.
