Barnet 0-5 Notts County (National League) 21.08.21

A magnificent start to the season saw Notts County thump five second half goals past a hapless Barnet on the road as the Magpies fly to the top of the table after just one game played.

As days go, the National League’s opener couldn’t have been any better with a packed away end at the Beehive enjoying a superb display of attacking football from Ian Burchnall’s side, but those fans had to wait their turn after a goalless first half in which the home side could easily have taken the lead in.

Bloomfield forcing a save off Slocombe on 37 after a good spell of pressure from the away side resulted in a couple of earlier near-misses from the likes of Rodrigues, Roberts and Taylor.

Notts however didn’t have to wait long until after the break, Ruben Rodrigues heading home the Magpies first of the season after a superb centre by Dion Kelly-Evans just two minutes of the second half gone.

One then became two, on 54 minutes Ruben was at it again, a cleverly worked free kick saw Matt Palmer cross low for Rodrigues to finish neatly home his second of the match.

Things got worse for Barnet who finished 23^rd in the table last season, Doherty bringing down Roberts inside the box on 66, sent off the defender shown a straight red, the Geordie winger coolly slotting home his penalty to make it three.

Still time for more, a depleted Barnet would then concede to Kyle Wooton who tapped home after Jim O’Brien unselfishly assisted following a break through run on goal. And in the final minute, O’Brien himself got on the scoresheet after Francis crossed for the Irishman to finish.

The perfect start for Notts, five of the best with Torquay at home next, and a point very much to prove against opposition who knocked them out of the race for promotion last season.

Barnet: Sargeant, Bloomfield (Granville 77), Brundle, Doherty, Flanagan, Turley, Thomas, Taylor (Tasdemir 77), Richards-Everton, Payne (Nugent 70), Mason-Clark.

Notts County: Slocombe, Brindley, Cameron, Rawlinson (Chicksen 79), Kelly-Evans (Nemane 77), Francis, Palmer, Roberts, Rodrigues (O’Brien 64), Taylor, Wootton.

Venue: The Hive

*Main image @Official_NCFC Kyle Wootton is off the mark for the season.