ACCIRNGTON, England (Interstat) — Barnet opened its League Two campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley on Tuesday afternoon, defying pre-match projections with a late winner from substitute Kabongo Tshimanga.

The match, played before a crowd of 2,347 at Wham Stadium, was a tightly contested affair largely devoid of clear chances until the final quarter-hour. The decisive moment arrived in the 81st minute, breaking a stalemate that had persisted for much of the evening.

The goal was created by veteran defender Seamus Conneely, who delivered a precise assist from the right flank. His service found Tshimanga, who had entered the match as a second-half substitute, and the forward made no mistake with a clinical finish to secure all three points for the visiting Bees.

The result marked a successful start to the English Football League season for Barnet, which was promoted to League Two this season. The club now holds a record of one win and no losses in the competition. For Accrington Stanley, the defeat represents a disappointing beginning to its league campaign, starting with zero wins and one loss.

The game’s physical nature was reflected in the booking of Conneely in the 36th minute for a foul. That caution was the only yellow card issued by the officiating crew.

The outcome stood in stark contrast to statistical forecasts. Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 1-1 draw, while the organization’s ELO rating system gave Accrington Stanley a 69.2% probability of securing a victory on its home pitch. Barnet’s organized defensive performance and timely substitution, however, rendered those projections moot.

Accrington Stanley struggled to translate its favored status into meaningful attacking momentum, failing to find a response after falling behind. The home side’s frustration was evident as it searched unsuccessfully for an equalizer in the closing minutes.

With the victory, Barnet’s overall record across all competitions this season improves to one win and no losses. Accrington Stanley’s overall record falls to zero wins and one loss.

The League Two fixture, contested on Feb. 24, 2026, provided an early-season upset and set a positive tone for Barnet’s return to the Football League. The club will look to build on the result in its next outing, while Accrington Stanley seeks to regroup and secure its first points of the new campaign.