Braintree end Barnet’s unbeaten run as John Akinde haunts former club

Former Barnet favourite John Akinde put the brakes on the club’s Vanarama National League promotion push by ending their 25-game unbeaten run with the winner in a 2-1 home triumph for Braintree.

Kyreece Lisbie forced Owen Evans to make an incredible save midway through the first half but, in the 36th minute, Ryan Glover set up Callum Stead to run through and slot the ball home for a Barnet opener. The hosts levelled it up four minutes before the break, though, as Lisbie cut inside and picked out the bottom corner.

Barnet, eight points clear of York at the top of the table, enjoyed chances to retake the lead throughout the second half, with Stead notably seeing a close-range effort scrambled away by the Braintree defence.

But when Joe Grimwood was sent off in the 87th minute, Akinde – who scored 90 times across his four seasons with the Bees – converted the resulting penalty to inflict a first defeat since October on his former employers.