Barnet FC have been drawn at home to Tranmere Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup. The tie pairs two clubs from League Two, with the Bees entering the competition in strong league form having won three of their last five games. Their overall record this season is six wins, three draws and one loss, leaving them second in League Two on 21 points, just four points behind the leaders.
The draw for the 40 first-round ties was made this week, confirming the fixture at Barnet's stadium. The club currently sits second in the League Two standings with 21 points from 10 matches, a position that provides a solid platform for their cup ambitions. They have scored 23 goals and conceded 15, giving them a goal difference of plus eight. The financial stakes are clear, with the winners of the first-round tie receiving £47,750 from the competition's prize fund. Clubs that are defeated at this stage will collect £15,800.
Barnet will approach the cup clash with confidence, having recently beaten Tranmere 2-1 at Prenton Park just last weekend. Kabongo Tshimanga scored both goals in that league victory, including a late penalty, and is the club's top scorer this season with 16 goals. That result contributed to a recent run of form that reads three wins, one draw and one defeat from the last five outings. In that recent victory, the decisive goal came in the 87th minute. Their most recent outing was a 3-1 home defeat to Swindon Town on Tuesday 20 October, where Tshimanga scored a late consolation.
For Tranmere, the FA Cup has been a source of frustration in recent seasons. They have not progressed beyond the first round in the past four years, with their last victory in the competition a 1-0 win over Crawley Town back in 2021. The draw ensures a swift reunion between the sides, who are separated by just four places in the League Two table.
Before the cup tie, Barnet's immediate focus returns to the league and a home fixture against Oldham Athletic on Saturday 24 October. Oldham currently occupy 21st place in the table, offering Barnet a chance to consolidate their strong league position ahead of the cup run. Following that, their next fixture is the FA Cup first round match against Tranmere Rovers, the date and kick-off time for which will be confirmed in due course.
First reported at wirralglobe.co.uk
