Early Barnet Dominance
Barnet opened the scoring in the 13th minute when loan signing Jake Reeves converted a loose ball into the bottom corner, giving the Bees a 1-0 advantage. The goal came after Lakin’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell to Reeves who finished calmly. Shrewsbury’s Josh Davison responded with a quick equaliser in the 23rd minute, slotting a cross from Matt Cox into the net. The hosts had a chance to double their lead when Nnamdi Ofoborh missed a clear opportunity, and Will Gray cleared a header off the line in the first half.
Shrewsbury Fightback
Just before the break, Shrewsbury drew level. Matt Cox, who had been on loan at Shrewsbury last season, spilled a cross and Davison reacted fastest to slot the ball home. In the second half, Shrewsbury’s Will Boyle saw a header cleared off the line and Luca Hoole headed wide, leaving the visitors unable to find a winner. Despite the pressure, Barnet held on to a 1-1 draw until the final minutes.
Late Barnet Surge
The decisive moments came in the final ten minutes. Lakin restored the Bees’ lead with a brilliant volley from a loose ball, catching the Shrewsbury defence off-guard. Then, in the 90th minute, Tom Knowles cut inside from the right and finished with a fine strike into the top corner, sealing a 3-1 victory for Barnet. The win gave Barnet a perfect start to the League Two season, maintaining their 100% record. The match report was supplied by PA Media, and a highlight reel was later posted by Sky Sports.
