FIVE goals at the EBB Stadium, FOUR of them to Shots and THREE more valuable points thanks to Shots biggest home win of the season. Guy Madjo led the way with two goals. Danny Hylton finally ended his four month goal drought and Troy Brown notched his first Shots goal.
Despite a run of four straight wins, Shots manager Dean Holdsworth was forced to make one change to the starting line-up which so convincingly brushed aside League Two leaders (at the time) Southend United. Josh Payne - who started all four of those matches - was nursing a foot injury and sat this one out, providing the opportunity for Troy Brown to take his place in the starting eleven.
Shots top scorer Danny Hylton was celebrating his 23rd birthday, and almost gave Shots the lead on 4 minutes, breaking clear of the Bees defence, only for Dean Brill to...err, brilliantly tip his shot over for a corner. With Josh Payne absent, it was Adam Mekki's duty to take them from the right side and from his excellent delivery, Sonny Bradley rose well to send a towering header towards goal. Brill got down low to save it, but could only parry it to Guy Madjo, who gleefully poked home his 2nd goal for Shots from close range.
A great start for Shots and on 17 minutes it got even better, with a wonderful flowing team move. Aaron Morris won the ball in midfield and sprayed a lovely pass out wide to Ben Herd. Herd advanced down the right and sent in a pin point cross which the birthday boy himself headed powerfully home! 2-0 Shots and it was Hyltons first goal since October.
Shots fans must have been pinching themselves as it was, but on 30 minutes, came a third goal for the home side. In truth, it was a bizarre effort. A ball lifted into the Barnet area was headed backwards by a Bees defender. Amongst a melee of legs, someone got a touch towards goal and somehow it sneaked past everyone and into the net. As the players wheeled away in celebration, Troy Brown took the plaudits and was credited with the goal. 3-0 Shots and despite a couple of headed efforts - both over the bar - by the visitors, that's how it stayed until the break.
Rather unusually, five substitutes were made at half time. Barnet used all three, whilst Jamie Young came on for Ross Worner and Reece Connolly for Adam Mekki.
Within five minutes, Shots scored a fourth. Hylton picked up the ball inside his own half and began a foray forward. After carrying the ball 20 yards, he then hit a defence splitting pass with the outside of his foot. Madjo almost connected with it, lost it, but battled away and won it, lost it again and then finding the ball at his feet in front of goal, shot low to the keepers left. 4-0 Shots.
The Bees, clearly stung by the scoreline, rallied briefly. After a couple of wayward shots, Jordan Obita let fly from long range. His effort was goalbound, but was met by a great save from Young. However, unluckily for Young, Charlie Taylor was on hand to poke home the rebound. 4-1
The game then got very niggly and scrappy. Herd was at the centre of most of it. And came off worst - twice. In amongst it, the best block tackle I have ever seen, by Vincenti, his opponent launched into the air by the sheer velocity of Vincenti's connection!
Shots came again. Twice Madjo, putting in one hell of a shift up front, was thwarted first by defender, then by keeper, as he battled away in search of his first hat-trick....for Shots. (he had previously scored two against us). Eventually, he made way for young Jordan Roberts to make his Shots debut.
For the second time in four days, Shots eased to a comfortable home win and stretched their unbeaten run to six games, finally banishing away any remaining fears of being dragged into a relegation dogfight.
Shots: Worner, (Young) Herd, Jones, Bradley, Straker, Mekki, (Connolly) Morris, Brown, Hylton, Vincenti, Madjo (Roberts) Subs not used: Smith, Risser. Att-2511 (206 visiting fans)