Albion’s development squad cruised to a 2-0 win at Hastings United to begin their pre-season campaign.
Deniss Rakels opened the scoring just minutes after the Latvian was introduced at half-time, while an own-goal sealed the win.
Barker was lively from the off and came closest during the first half after skipping past three Hastings defenders inside the box, but his effort was cleared off the line.
Brennan Dickenson also shaved the outside of a post with a 20-yard free-kick, after he was chopped down.
It was not all one sided though as former Albion scholar Jack Shonk came close with a free-kick that dipped narrowly over the bar, and shortly before half time a mix up at the back allowed an opening for the Ryman League Division One side, but right-back Rob Hunt made a brilliant recovery to block the shot.
Albion made five changes at the break, one of which was striker Rakels, and he opened the scoring by heading Barker’s free-kick past Josh Pelling.
Within minutes Albion almost doubled their lead as youth team prospect Charlie Harris broke clear of the home defence, but Josh Pelling beat the ball away for a corner.
As the final whistle drew closer, and the non-league side began to tire, gaps opened within the Hastings defence but Shamir Goodwin and Emile Asmundsson both failed to find a finishing touch to their respective efforts.
But last kick of the game Albion's lead was doubled when Josh Jirbandey headed Solly March's corner past into his own net.
Albion: (4-3-3) Smith (Walton 46); Hunt (Barry 60), Rea (Horncastle 74), Maksimenko (Ince 46), Barnett (Lall 46); Harris (Benham 74), Richards (Asmundsson 30), Starkey (Wilshere 74); Barker (March 60), Agdestein (Rakels 46), Dickenson (Goodwin 46).
Attendance: 740
Original article
Deniss Rakels opened the scoring just minutes after the Latvian was introduced at half-time, while an own-goal sealed the win.
Barker was lively from the off and came closest during the first half after skipping past three Hastings defenders inside the box, but his effort was cleared off the line.
Brennan Dickenson also shaved the outside of a post with a 20-yard free-kick, after he was chopped down.
It was not all one sided though as former Albion scholar Jack Shonk came close with a free-kick that dipped narrowly over the bar, and shortly before half time a mix up at the back allowed an opening for the Ryman League Division One side, but right-back Rob Hunt made a brilliant recovery to block the shot.
Albion made five changes at the break, one of which was striker Rakels, and he opened the scoring by heading Barker’s free-kick past Josh Pelling.
Within minutes Albion almost doubled their lead as youth team prospect Charlie Harris broke clear of the home defence, but Josh Pelling beat the ball away for a corner.
As the final whistle drew closer, and the non-league side began to tire, gaps opened within the Hastings defence but Shamir Goodwin and Emile Asmundsson both failed to find a finishing touch to their respective efforts.
But last kick of the game Albion's lead was doubled when Josh Jirbandey headed Solly March's corner past into his own net.
Albion: (4-3-3) Smith (Walton 46); Hunt (Barry 60), Rea (Horncastle 74), Maksimenko (Ince 46), Barnett (Lall 46); Harris (Benham 74), Richards (Asmundsson 30), Starkey (Wilshere 74); Barker (March 60), Agdestein (Rakels 46), Dickenson (Goodwin 46).
Attendance: 740
Original article