Barnet Dominates Salford 3-1 Despite Late Lapse
Barnet launched their League Two campaign with a statement win – and a stinging rebuke from their own manager.
Dean Brennan watched his side dismantle Salford 3-1 at home, saw three summer signings deliver, heard the crowd roar. He still walked away irritated.
The reason? A 90th-minute consolation that wiped out his clean sheet.
“It’s a good start but I’m annoyed not to keep a clean sheet,” he said, the mood turning quickly despite the scoreline. “When it comes to the real detail, we should have won the game by four clear goals.”
Barnet ruthless, then careless
Barnet took control early and never really let go.
After 24 minutes, Oisin Gallagher broke the deadlock, rewarding a sharp, front-foot opening from the hosts. Salford struggled to live with Barnet’s intensity and paid again before the interval, Charlie Lakin doubling the lead to send Brennan’s side in at half-time firmly on top.
Barnet kept their foot down after the break. The pressure built, the chances came, and eventually Kabongo Tshimanga supplied the third in the closing stages, a goal that reflected the flow of the contest as the home side ran riot in attack.
At 3-0, the job looked complete. Brennan wanted more.
“My team went mad last year for conceding silly goals and we dropped so many points in leading positions,” he said. Those memories came rushing back in stoppage time.
Salford captain Adebola Oluwo climbed to pull one back in the 90th minute. The goal changed nothing on the scoreboard that really matters in August – three points are three points – but it changed everything in Brennan’s mind.
Salford had already hit the post late on, another warning that Barnet’s grip was loosening.
“I said to the players in the huddle, if players are coming off the bench, I need to trust them. They need to be reliable,” Brennan stressed. The message was as much about the season ahead as it was about a single scruffy goal.
Cox impresses as Brennan eyes reinforcements
One new face did escape criticism. Goalkeeper Matthew Cox drew praise after a composed league debut between the posts.
“He’s a really good goalkeeper and his kicking is outstanding,” Brennan said. “He’s embedded into the squad really well and he’s the keeper I wanted this summer.”
Even after such a convincing victory, Brennan is not done reshaping his squad before the transfer deadline.
“We’ve still got a bit of business left to do,” he admitted. “We need attacking players so I can make attacking substitutions. We haven’t had enough of that and it’s an area we have to address.”
The performance suggested Barnet already carry plenty of threat. Brennan wants depth to sustain it from August to May.
Cklamovski calls for response
For Salford, the afternoon cut deep.
Their promotion hopes arrived with optimism; they left with a harsh reminder of League Two’s realities. Head coach Peter Cklamovski did not sugarcoat what he had seen.
“There is a lot of hurt and disappointment within the four walls of the changing room,” he said. “It’s a bad performance and that sort of performance gets you these results.”
Barnet’s approach unsettled his side all game.
“Credit to Barnet, they turned the game into their style and we didn’t handle those elements, both direct balls and second balls,” Cklamovski admitted.
Salford did rally after the break, pushing higher, forcing Barnet back and finally finding that late goal through Oluwo. It was a reaction, but not a rescue act.
“We climbed a huge mountain in the second half and pushed hard,” Cklamovski said. “We need to use it as fuel for next weekend and be more effective in the first half.
“We earn the right to perform better and play our football and turn words like ambition into reality.
“That wasn’t a reflection of who we are and that’s the heartache of it because that’s not who we envisage ourselves to be.”
Barnet leave with three goals, three points and a manager still demanding more. Salford leave with hurt, a warning, and a week to prove this was an early stumble, not a sign of what’s coming.
