Barnet 2, Crawley Town 1: Reds lose opening game of 2026 despite McKirdy's sneaky brilliance

Joe Kizzi gave the home side the lead after just five minutes before Harry McKirdy’s sneaky brilliance on 33 minutes made it 1-1. But Kizzi struck again with 15 minutes to go to secure all three points for the home side.

Reds made four changes to the side that lost 3-1 to Bromley on Tuesday night with new signings Theo Vassell and Taylor Richards both starting.

But they made the worst possible start when Barnet scored from their fourth corner in the first five minutes. Joe Kizzi headed home.

It nearly got worse a minute later but Reds fans were relieved to see Idris Kanu’s effort come off the post into Harvey Davies’ arms.

They then survived a convincing looking penalty shout when Geraldo Bajrami appeared to to trip Kanu, but the referee waved away appeals.

On 14 minutes, Davies made a superb save to keep it at 1-0.

Scott Lindsey’s side slowly got back into the game and nearly equalised when Josh Flint, playing as the left wing back, smashed a super effort against the post.

But Barnet were playing with confidence and on 21 minutes Davies was called into action again. The lively Kanu broke down the right and crossed for Lee Ndlovu but the Liverpool loanee saved well from the striker’s effort.

Crawley made an early change with Kabby Tshimanga replacing Ryan Loft, who was apparently carrying an injury, on 25 minutes. Nnamdi Ofoborh was booked for hacking down Harry Forster, who looked like Crawley’s liveliest player in the first quarter of the game.

Richards then had a stunning strike go just wide as Reds started to threaten the home goal more.

And then came the equaliser, and it was a moment to forget for Barnet keeper Cieran Slicker. He rolled the ball out ready to make a clearance – but he was unaware of the lurking McKirdy, who snuck up behind home to pinch the ball and fire home into an empty net from 20 yards.

Reds started to play with more confidence after the goal and Richards tested Slicker with a low effort on 36 minutes.

It remained 1-1 at half-time.

It was a much quieter start to the second half in terms of chances and it took until the 60th minute for the first real chance and Kanu fired just wide from 20 yards.

Vassell was then booked before Louie Watson replaced Richards. And the sub was straight into the action when he thought he had given the Reds the lead when his volley looked like it was going to hit the back of the net, but Slicker redeemed himself with a superb save to deny Watson.

From the resulting corner, Flint fired over the bar after Slicker had saved from close range.

Barnet had rarely threatened the Crawley goal in the second half but on 76 minutes they retook the lead when Kizzi turned home after Ryan Glover’s superb cross fell kindly to him.

Forster and McKirdy were then replaced by Ade Adeyemo and Kaheim Dixon.

Reds struggled to create any chances after that and the score remained 2-1.

Lindsey’s men dropped one place in the table after Bristol Rovers’ win away at Shrewsbury.