Latest news with #WillDavies
North Wales Chronicle
03-08-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Fleetwood's defending impresses boss Pete Wild in opening day away success
Barnet dominated possession but Will Davies put Fleetwood ahead in the 22nd minute, pouncing on a mistake from keeper Owen Evans to slot into an empty net. Club captain Elliot Bonds sealed the win five minutes after the break, firing home a rebound. Wild said: 'It was a proper League Two away performance. We had to be good in both boxes – that's what this league is all about. We've been in it for four years and know what it takes to win away. 'Sometimes we won't have the ball, so we need to stay solid and take our chances when they come.' Wild praised his team's pressing and Davies' composure, adding. 'Their keeper made a few mistakes and didn't get away with them – we were on the front foot and worked on that press.' On the second goal, he said: 'The first 15 minutes after half-time is always tough. Getting that goal when we did was very pleasing. I've been saying all week to our players that everybody has to chip in with goals. 'Last season, if games ended in the 88th minute, we'd have 17 more points. The subs used their experience well to see the game out and that ruthless edge was probably missing across pre-season when we've not scored enough goals for the chances we created.' Barnet manager Dean Brennan had no overriding emotions leading his side into their first EFL game in seven years but was left disappointed by the manner of the defeat. 'It's just another game. I'm not caught up in the emotions or what we achieved in the past – that's history,' said Brennan. 'We lost a game I wanted us to win. We didn't hit the standards we've set, especially over the last couple of years. Our unbeaten home record is gone. 'There were some OK phases but we weren't good enough around the box. Some players went off-script and looked nervous, despite handling big games in the past.' On Danny Collinge's ruled-out goal, he added: 'Offside or not, I haven't seen it back, a breakthrough would've been nice. 'I said yesterday the first goal would be huge, given how Fleetwood would set up. They managed the game better than us in both boxes. 'The first goal came from poor goalkeeping. We were in control, had plenty of box entries, but then gave the ball away – it was kamikaze. 'The message to the players is clear: we can't perform like that. If we keep replicating those performances, we'll lose a lot of games in this league.'
The Irish Sun
02-08-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘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. 3 Owen Evans was tackled by Fleetwood forward Will Davies Credit: Sky Sports 3 Evans was caught dawdling on the ball outside his area Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 Will Davies rolled the ball into an empty net Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw 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. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 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." Most read in EFL BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 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. EFL club launch new badge like 'lion with lollipop and first aid box' The Irishman, 45, told the "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 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."
South Wales Guardian
02-08-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Fleetwood's defending impresses boss Pete Wild in opening day away success
Barnet dominated possession but Will Davies put Fleetwood ahead in the 22nd minute, pouncing on a mistake from keeper Owen Evans to slot into an empty net. Club captain Elliot Bonds sealed the win five minutes after the break, firing home a rebound. Wild said: 'It was a proper League Two away performance. We had to be good in both boxes – that's what this league is all about. We've been in it for four years and know what it takes to win away. 'Sometimes we won't have the ball, so we need to stay solid and take our chances when they come.' Wild praised his team's pressing and Davies' composure, adding. 'Their keeper made a few mistakes and didn't get away with them – we were on the front foot and worked on that press.' On the second goal, he said: 'The first 15 minutes after half-time is always tough. Getting that goal when we did was very pleasing. I've been saying all week to our players that everybody has to chip in with goals. 'Last season, if games ended in the 88th minute, we'd have 17 more points. The subs used their experience well to see the game out and that ruthless edge was probably missing across pre-season when we've not scored enough goals for the chances we created.' Barnet manager Dean Brennan had no overriding emotions leading his side into their first EFL game in seven years but was left disappointed by the manner of the defeat. 'It's just another game. I'm not caught up in the emotions or what we achieved in the past – that's history,' said Brennan. 'We lost a game I wanted us to win. We didn't hit the standards we've set, especially over the last couple of years. Our unbeaten home record is gone. 'There were some OK phases but we weren't good enough around the box. Some players went off-script and looked nervous, despite handling big games in the past.' On Danny Collinge's ruled-out goal, he added: 'Offside or not, I haven't seen it back, a breakthrough would've been nice. 'I said yesterday the first goal would be huge, given how Fleetwood would set up. They managed the game better than us in both boxes. 'The first goal came from poor goalkeeping. We were in control, had plenty of box entries, but then gave the ball away – it was kamikaze. 'The message to the players is clear: we can't perform like that. If we keep replicating those performances, we'll lose a lot of games in this league.'
Rhyl Journal
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Fleetwood's defending impresses boss Pete Wild in opening day away success
Barnet dominated possession but Will Davies put Fleetwood ahead in the 22nd minute, pouncing on a mistake from keeper Owen Evans to slot into an empty net. Club captain Elliot Bonds sealed the win five minutes after the break, firing home a rebound. Wild said: 'It was a proper League Two away performance. We had to be good in both boxes – that's what this league is all about. We've been in it for four years and know what it takes to win away. 'Sometimes we won't have the ball, so we need to stay solid and take our chances when they come.' Wild praised his team's pressing and Davies' composure, adding. 'Their keeper made a few mistakes and didn't get away with them – we were on the front foot and worked on that press.' On the second goal, he said: 'The first 15 minutes after half-time is always tough. Getting that goal when we did was very pleasing. I've been saying all week to our players that everybody has to chip in with goals. 'Last season, if games ended in the 88th minute, we'd have 17 more points. The subs used their experience well to see the game out and that ruthless edge was probably missing across pre-season when we've not scored enough goals for the chances we created.' Barnet manager Dean Brennan had no overriding emotions leading his side into their first EFL game in seven years but was left disappointed by the manner of the defeat. 'It's just another game. I'm not caught up in the emotions or what we achieved in the past – that's history,' said Brennan. 'We lost a game I wanted us to win. We didn't hit the standards we've set, especially over the last couple of years. Our unbeaten home record is gone. 'There were some OK phases but we weren't good enough around the box. Some players went off-script and looked nervous, despite handling big games in the past.' On Danny Collinge's ruled-out goal, he added: 'Offside or not, I haven't seen it back, a breakthrough would've been nice. 'I said yesterday the first goal would be huge, given how Fleetwood would set up. They managed the game better than us in both boxes. 'The first goal came from poor goalkeeping. We were in control, had plenty of box entries, but then gave the ball away – it was kamikaze. 'The message to the players is clear: we can't perform like that. If we keep replicating those performances, we'll lose a lot of games in this league.'
Powys County Times
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Fleetwood spoil Barnet's EFL return
Fleetwood ran out 2-0 winners over newly-promoted Barnet at The Hive in what marked the hosts' first EFL game in seven years. Barnet failed to take their chances in the Sky Bet League Two contest, while Fleetwood's Will Davies slotted into an empty net after dispossessing goalkeeper Owen Evans. Skipper Elliot Bonds doubled the lead in the second half when Ryan Graydon's curling effort was saved and Bonds reacted quickest to slot home the rebound. Dean Brennan's side thought they had taken the lead inside 12 minutes when Danny Collinge tapped in Ryan Glover's deflected effort but the flag was raised for offside. The visitors struck first in the 22nd minute, with Davies punishing Evans error. The Barnet keeper responded well though, producing a sharp save to deny Mark Helm at the near post. Fleetwood extended their lead five minutes after the restart, with Bonds in the right place to finish from close range. Just after the hour mark, Barnet substitute Dennis Adeniran unleashed a fierce strike, forcing a superb near-post save from Fleetwood keeper Jay Lynch to preserve the lead.
