‘That wasn’t a mistake… that was a donation’ – Watch Barnet’s first game back in EFL go horribly wrong

BARNET goalkeeper Owen Evans endured a moment to forget as he gifted Fleetwood the opening goal on the Bees’ return to the EFL.

Dean Brennan’s side hosted the Cod Army at the Hive in their first League Two match since being relegated to non-league seven years ago.

Barnet fans have gone into this season with much optimism, with some pundits even tipping the Londoners to challenge for promotion again.

But the Bees were knocked out of the League Cup by Newport in the preliminary round in mid-week, and were again sent crashing back down to earth by Fleetwood this afternoon.

On 22 minutes, Barnet stopper Evans dawdled with the ball to the right of his penalty area.

As he looked to get the ball out of his feet, the 28-year-old showed too much of it to Will Davies.

Evans attempted to atone for his error by skipping around Davies, only to be tackled by the Fleetwood forward.

Davies could hardly believe his luck as he rolled the ball into the empty net.

Commentating for Sky Sports, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk called Evans’ mistake a “calamity”.

While a fan wrote on X: “That wasn’t a mistake… that was a donation.”

Things went from bad to worse for Barnet after the break, when Elliot Bonds fired beyond Evans on 50 minutes.

Following his side’s 2-0 defeat, Bees boss Brennan pulled no punches when discussing Evans’ display.

The Irishman, 45, told the BBC: “He has to own that [performance], that’s down to him.

“He missed all of pre-season with a lot of messing in the summer with his contract, with joining us.

“So when you miss pre-season and you are rusty you’re going to do stupid things like that.

“At the end of the day he’s put that performance in, not me. Their goalkeeper made saves when he had to.”

Evans played 18 matches while on loan at Barnet from Cheltenham during the second half of last season.

The former Wales youth international agreed to make the switch permanent on June 26.

Brennan said at the time: “Owen needs no introduction to the football club.

“He impressed last year in his loan, and it’s been a long summer trying to get him to sign.

“His family situation changed when he had a daughter on the last day of the season, so eventually we worked something out for him to commit long-term to the football club.”