Barnet 4-0 Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League Two, The Hive, Tuesday 9 December 2025
Bristol Rovers fell to a frustrating 4-0 Sky Bet League Two defeat away to Barnet.
The hosts took the early advantage through Adam Senior’s header and, despite Luke Thomas and Fabrizio Cavegn going close, doubled the lead thanks to Nnamdi Ofoborh’s shot from outside the area.
Rovers battled in the second half, going close notably thanks to Shaq Forde, but Barnet’s win was wrapped up when Mark Shelton tucked in his penalty on 77 minutes. Substitute Callum Stead added insult with a late fourth for the hosts.
The Gas started brightly on a blustery Tuesday evening at The Hive, with Thomas spinning on the edge of the area to fire just over the cross-bar.
Kacper Lopata put his body on the line to deny the home side on the counter but, from the resulting corner, Barnet took the lead. Defender Senior made a late run at the back post, rising highest to head in.
Thomas went close again for Rovers, this time snatching onto a careless pass, but again fired over the bar. Fabrizio Cavegn then forced a first save of the evening from Slicker, receiving the ball on the halfway line and striding forward before getting his shot away.
It was cruel for Rovers, just as they began to grow into the game, that Barnet grabbed their second. It was a special strike too, in truth, by Ofoborh, with his left-footed effort finding the net from distance.
Barnet could have found a third before the break as well. Britt Assombalonga forced Southwood into a crucial save before the Rovers No1 made another pair of timely stops, keeping the score at two in favour of the hosts at the interval.
The Gas went for broke in the second half, bringing the pace and attacking intent of Shaq Forde and Freddie Issaka into the team from the bench.
The changes sparked a drive forward for Rovers. Lopata’s header was cleared off the line before Forde’s clever volley was palmed over by Slicker.
Taylor Moore went closest next for the Gas, his powerful effort was blocked, before another Forde shot was driven over the bar.
Barnet were limited in the second half but, with 13 minutes to play, Kamil Conteh clumsily fouled Shelton in the area, giving the home side a penalty. The Barnet No19 stepped up himself to score the Bees’ third.
There was time for Barnet to net a fourth as substitute Stead controlled the ball in the box to add late on.
Barnet: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Kanu (Hawkins 70), Glover (Hugill 81), Hartigan (c) (Stead 60), Shelton (Winterburn 81), Smith, Tavares Assombalonga (Browne 70), Ofoborh
Subs not used: Evans, Kensade
Goals: Senior 15, Ofoborh 30, Shelton 78 (p), Stead 89
Booked: Slicker, Hawkins
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Sparkes, Moore, Mola, Thomas (Issaka 46), Lockyer (c) (Forde 46), Cotterill, McEachran (Morton 62), Conteh, Cavegn, Lopata
Subs not used: Young, Howley, Bilongo, Negru
Booked: McEachran,
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendance: 2,157 (414 away)
