Mansfield showed why they are promotion candidates
Mansfield in the end breezes past a spirited Barnet and really laid down a marker to those around them at the top end of League 2. They found it harder in the first half to break Barnet down but once MacDonald opened the scoring, the floodgate really opened. Mansfield turned the screw on Barnet and left the Bees with a very long trip home and a lot more work on Westley’s hands.
Akinde needs to start finding his feet again
Big John Akinde had his injury earlier this campaign and has seemed to return more muscular which I wasn’t sure was possible but you can tell he is no where near the same level he was last season, when he walked away with the golden boot. If Barnet are to stay up then the goals of Akinde and his strike partner Coulthirst need to start ramping up.
Westley has rejuvenated Barnet
Despite the result, former Enfield and Stevenage boss Graham Westley has got the players to find a sort of second wind. Curtis Weston and Ryan Watson looked very assured in the middle of the park, whilst Bover looked a threat down the wing. Clough and Santos looked more composed at the back, with Tutonda and Brindley being overall solid. Barnet need that confidence boost from a big win to maybe start the road to a great escape from the trap door out of the football league.
Barnet do look a side ready for the drop
Despite all the positives I saw from Barnet today, there is a real gulf in the quality on show. Mansfield were not at their best but had the quality in their side to grind the result out. Maybe relegation to the National League will do Barnet some good as they can rebuild like they did once before. Barnet have been treading water since their return and if wasn’t for the goals of Akinde it could have come sooner.
Alex MacDonald only scores bangers
MacDonald scores yet another beauty of a goal today. He seems to have the ability to hit absolute screamers as he also, scored a a wonderful strike away at Coventry, earlier this season. He is a very useful player to have in the squad as when thugs are ver drab and teams are hard to break down like today, then you have a chance to pull a rabbit out the hat. Once he did it made Barnet open up more and that’s when Mansfield’s quality shone through
