Nationwide Conference
Saturday, 25 January 3:00pm

By Chris Holland

Barnet were left still seeking their first win of 2003 following a point from a highly charged game at Underhill. John Doolan levelled with a 25-yard net ripper after Burton had turned the game on its head with two goals at the start of the second half.

Despite adopting the same formation as last week the Bees made two changes. Danny Brown and Lee Pluck returning to the side in place of the injured Wayne Purser and Ian Hendon who signed for Peterborough during the week. This meant a re-shuffle with Neil Midgley joining Agogo up-front, Brown slotted in on the left side of midfield and Pluck at right wing-back.

Barnet started brightly and with Brown on the left and Gower on the right looked the more balanced of the two sides. Pluck's early cross and Gower's shot signalled Barnet's intent. It wasn't long before Barnet took the lead when Agogo out-muscled Colin Hoyle and just as it seemed as though he'd shoot himself, he laid the ball across to the better positioned Danny Brown, who made no mistake.

Barnet looked to double their lead, and Agogo latched on to a ball from the left but his 25-yard chip has way over with Lee Camp in the Burton goal off his line. Mark Gower was playing a cameo role, no more so then when he hurdled three challenges before threading the ball through to Lee Pluck whose cross was blocked for a corner. From the resulting corner Midgley headed just wide.

Burton came back into it and their most likely source of a goal was the lively Christian Moore. Moore got in behind the defence though Danny Naisbett was equal to his shot, closing down the angles very well. Hoyle then had a 25-yard effort that went across Naisbett and just wide. Moore then had another good opportunity from Webster's cross but his header from 10 yards was again just wide of the mark.

The game then began to heat up following a challenge by Yakabu and Sinton. Though there was no intent Yakabu was booked. In the brief time Sinton came back on, he had a dig at Lee Pluck, who had up until then kept the former England international quiet.

Burton were unlucky not to go in level when Moore's corner found Hoyle whose free close range header seemed destined for the net, Naisbett somehow stuck out an arm and flicked the ball over the bar. The young Barnet keeper underlining his growing confidence and continuing the form he has shown in recent weeks.

Second Half

In the first fifteen minutes of the second half Barnet conceded twice. Burton equalised following as Glasser's cross led to a comedy of errors. Jason Soloman who'd had an impressive first half sliced his clearance to Stride and he brought the ball down and his tame shot squirmed through Naisbett's hands and into the bottom corner.

Barnet looked to recover though Agogo's touch was too strong following a good run and a 1-2 with Midgley and Camp was able to smother. Flynn fired over from 18 yards, then following a teasing cross by Lee Pluck, Fraser Tom's cheeky flick deceived Camp but was off target.

Burton took the lead in controversial circumstances when Christian Moore blatantly controlled Craig Dudley's pass with his hand before finishing past Naisbett. The home fans expecting a free-kick were to be awarded were incensed when the referee signalled a goal. Whether there was any intent on Moore's part is certainly a discussion point.

The visitors lead was shortlived though as Barnet equalised six minutes later. Mark Gower's surging run was abruptly halted by Hoyle, from the free-kick Gower laid the ball off to Doolan who let fly with a 25-yard thunderbolt. The strike, through a crowd of players left Camp with no time to react.

Burton nearly restored their lead when O'Halloran was given space but his shot was saved by Naisbett. Then following a short corner Flynn laid the ball off to Doolan who came charging in trying to repeat his earlier feat, his 30 yard goalbound effort through a crowd of players struck Camp who was able to turn the ball wide. Only the goalkeeper knows whether he was lucky or not, as a yard either side of Camp and he would've almost certainly been stranded.

Barnet seemed the most likely team to win and began to rain in shots on the Burton goal. Lee Pluck missed the best chance of the remaining minutes. When Gower's cross was half cleared the was ball played back in finding Pluck in space who blazed over. To be fair Pluck appeared to be bundled over when the initial cross came in so had little time to react. Other chances fell to Agogo who shot straight at Camp and in another move forced him into a diving save from a tight angle, but Burton held on.

Barnet will be disappointed to only take a point, though perhaps Burton who in a change from many conference sides attempted to play passing football deserved a point. With the sides level and the game up for grabs, it was disappointing to see Burton's assistant manager Gary Crosby blatantly throw the ball away and then try to prevent the Barnet players from getting to the ball when Barnet won a throw on the halfway line. It was a sour moment in an otherwise entertaining game.

Man of The Match

John Doolan - A driving force in recent weeks, his stunning equaliser turned the momentum of the game back in Barnet's favour.

Bookings

Barnet

I.Yakubu, 29, unsporting behaviour
L.Flynn, 38, unsporting behaviour
F.Toms, 59, unsporting behaviour

Burton Albion

C.Hoyle, 65, unsporting behaviour

Teams

Barnet

D.Naisbitt, L.Pluck, J.Soloman, L.Flynn, G.Heald, I.Yakubu, J.Doolan, D.Brown (F.Toms - 54), M.Gower, J.Agogo, N.Midgley

Unused Subs: L.Baimass, T.Oshitola, Lopez, R.Millard

Burton Albion

L.Camp, D.Wassall (M.O'Halloran - 56), T.Henshaw, A.Webster, C.Hoyle, A.Sinton (P.Talbot - 33), D.Stride, C.Dudley, N.Glasser, N.Clough, C.Moore

Unused subs: Garner, P.Wraith, S.Farrell

Other Reports

BRIANSUPJHONSTILL
theconference
Nationwide's Football Site
BBC
burtonalbionfc.co.uk