Nationwide Conference
Saturday 16 November 3.00pm

By Chris Holland

Barnet shrugged off their recent run of indifferent results with a comprehensive home victory against their Merseyside counterparts.

Junior Agogo rounding off the scoring with yet another goal of the season contender. His two goals in this game now make him the conference top scorer.

Barnet made three changes to the side that started at Woking with Mark Arber, Ismail Yakabu and loan signing Michael Price replacing Lee Pluck, Jason Soloman and Lee Gledhill respectively.

Both sides struggled to make any impact early on with Leigh goalkeeper Stuart Coburn saving smartly early on before seeing long range efforts from John Doolan and Agogo go well wide. The home fans seemed to sense a goal coming regularly singing 'we're gonna score in a minute.' Their faith was rewarded on 19 minutes when Barnet took the lead. A long ball forward found Agogo, his pass across the edge of the 18 yard box was collected by Strevens who then collided with Coburn. With Strevens appealing for a penalty Toms collected the ball and picked out Mark Gower who finished with a low right foot shot from 8 yards.

The visitors almost levelled the match less than 60 seconds later as Fisher shot just wide when he should've at least tested Naisbett. Though it was Barnet spurred on by the early goal who to charge and began to dominate possession. Strevens superb crossfield ball found Gower whose chip beat Coburn and unfortunately for him the bar. A dangerous cross by Pope eluded the Barnet forwards and Gower's 25 yard effort was saved by Coburn.

When Leigh finally got the ball they were unable to breach the Barnet back four with Arber making a crucial challenge as Williams looked to have got behind the defence. Barnet's pressure told four minutes from the break as Gower's perfect ball from the halfway line was taken in his stride by Agogo and though forced wide by Coburn the Barnet striker was able to lift the ball over the covering defenders to double the Bees lead.

Leigh manager Stuart Waywell replaced Monk with Tolson at the break in an effort to improve his teams fortunes. However it was Barnet who extended their advantage in the first minute of the second half. Doolan's crossfield pass found Price and he worked the ball with Toms into a crossing position. The cross was cut out, but Strevens seized upon the ball and looked surprised to see his cross come shot go in despite the scrambling efforts of Coburn.

In truth Leigh rarely threatened the Barnet goal and perhaps their best opportunity fell to Tolson following a pass from Whittaker but with only Naisbett to beat Tolson shot wide of the keepers left hand post. Though Stuart Coburn continued to have his work cut out in goal, he did well to parry another goal bound effort from Gower and brilliantly stopped Agogo's fiercely struck shot following Strevens pass.

The main danger to the home side's efforts to pick up all three points came from the weather as fog rapidly descended upon Underhill. Despite the worsening conditions Barnet seemed hungry for more goals with one effort disallowed for a foul on Coburn. Barnet were not to be denied though as 15 minutes from time Agogo rounded the scoring off with the best goal of the afternoon. Picking the ball up 60 yards out Agogo ran fully 40 yards, cutting infield before drilling his shot low to the keepers right much to the delight of the home fans.

Soon after, Agogo was denied his hat-trick after his side footed effort following Strevens cut back was well saved by Coburn. Agogo's pass then set substitute Wayne Purser free down the right and his cross was out of the reach of Barnet's other substitute Neil Midgley. Agogo's pace was a constant threat and he looked as though he would claim the hat-trick he deerved when he again got behind the Railwaymen's back line only to chip the ball harmlessly wide of Coburn's near post.

In what could have been altogether more difficult circumstances the Barnet players and supporters were a credit to the club and they be applauded for that. Special mentions, firstly to Michael Price who gave the team much needed balance and admirably supported Toms on the left flank. Also young Chris Cashman who made his first league appearance replacing Price near the end and showed signs of early promise.

Man of the Match

Ben Strevens - A tough choice but Strevens pace, passing and overall teamwork were one of the highlights of an impressive team display.

Bookings

Barnet (4-4-2)

No bookings

Leigh RMI (4-4-2)

67 - Salt booked for dissent.

Squads

Barnet Naisbitt, Pope, Arber, Heald, Price (Cashman, 80), Gower, Doolan, Yakubu (Purser, 53), Toms (Midgley, 75), Strevens, Agogo

Unused Subs: Harrison, Pluck

Leigh RMI

Coburn, Harrison, Maden, Fitzhenry, Monk (Tolson, 45), Salt, Kielty, Williams, Maamria, Fisher (Blakeman, 55), Whittaker

Unused Subs: Courtney, McGill, Heald