ST ALBANS CITY 0
BARNET 3

Pre-season friendlies are notoriously bad indicators of what kind of season teams are likely to have Barnet were stuffed 10-1 by Arsenal in July 2004 before going on to take the Nationwide Conference title that season.

That said, a comfortable win over St Albans who play this season in the Nationwide Conference, only a league below the Bees was notable for a number of fine individual performances and some neat inter-play from what looked suspiciously like boss Paul Fairclough's strongest side.

Liam Hatch's brace put Barnet on their way, but it was the quality of the goals which would have pleased Barnet fans.

Not the most accomplished of finishers, Hatch showed he is reaping the benefits of a full pre-season. His first goal was a cool shot over the advancing home keeper after an incisive through-ball from Richard Graham.

Hatch's second, a minute before the break, was even better as he chested the ball before volleying first time hard and low into the net. Paul Bastock in the St Albans goal got a hand to it, but the power on the shot was too great.

The Bees made the game safe just before the hour. Dean Sinclair, who looked lively throughout, set up Graham who lashed the ball past an exposed Bastock.

Hatch aside, the Bees keeper Lee Harrison, though rarely troubled by an insipid St Albans, looked confident and calm. His best moments came with the home side already 3-0 down.

Three times he had to be alert to prevent conceding a consolation. His best save came in the 67th minute as he moved quickly off his line to save at the feet of Simon Martin.

New signing Nicky Nicolau also impressed at left-back and is a certainty to start the season ahead of fellow left-back Adam Gross. There was enough to suggest Nicolau and Graham will form quite a duo down Barnet's left. The two combined wonderfully on 72 minutes, Nicolau's inch-perfect cross finding the head of Giuliano Grazioli who could only direct his free header wastefully wide. Ismail Yakubu is another who looks to be in good form ahead of the new season. He dominated at the back and made one classy interception in the first half to prevent St Albans striking on goal.

Fairclough made only substitution, bringing on the Sutton United central midfielder Glen Boosey, 22, for Nicky Bailey at half-time.

Boosey did nothing however to suggest he is worth taking a second look at.