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Nationwide Conference By Chris Holland Barnet experienced another one of those days losing at home to Margate. In a game blighted by lacklustre finishing, Sam Sodje's close range header from Terry McFlynn's corner proved to be the difference between the sides. Despite dominating possession in for long spells, Barnet were made to pay for their inability to find a way past the impressive Phil Smith in the visitors goal. The Bees showed one change from the side who had won so impressively at Halifax, with Lee Pluck replacing the suspended Lee Flynn. Barnet dominated the first fifteen minutes of the match with Smith forced into a smart save from Danny Brown, the Margate keeper also on hand to block two efforts from Junior Agogo. Smith was forced into the best of his early saves as Mark Gower ran unchallenged and his shot from 20 yards forced the visiting keeper into a fine full length stop. Margate came back into the game and had arguably the best two chances of the first half. The first from an Adrian Clarke corner, as Naisbett failed get the ball under control the ball fell to a Margate attacker who hooked the ball over from little more than six yards. Clarke turned provider again but Naisbett got down well to thwart Leon Braithwaite's downward header. Barnet hit back and Wayne Purser's effort from a tight angle was bundled wide. Smith was then forced into yet another two fine saves both from the lively Neil Midgley. The first when Midgley did well to adjust to Gower's cross, his looping header seemed destined for the top corner until Smith somehow clawed the ball behind for a corner. Then Midgley's effort destined for the bottom corner was met by another full length save by Smith. Though the warning signs were still there as another Clarke corner found its way through a crowd of players only for Ishmail Yakubu to clear off the line. Second Half Barnet failed to take heed of the visitors set-piece threat and fell behind less than ten minutes into the second half when Sodje leapt highest of all to meet McFlynn's corner with a powerful close range header into the roof of the net. Barnet stuck to their task but seemed over elaborate in their attempts to manufacture an equaliser. Indeed, it was Margate who should have had the chance to double their lead when Jason Soloman appeared to bring down Phil Collins. However the referee didn't think twice as he waved away the appeals. Junior Agogo spearheaded Barnet's late efforts to grab a draw as two dangerous crosses, one evading everyone, and the other when Gower, with Smith in close attention, lifted the ball over the bar. As the pressure began to mount, a Gower corner also somehow managed to avoid everyone. In the dying seconds Barnet were presented with a golden opportunity to equalise. Following Yakubu's ball over the top, Midgley got in front of Smith; both players missed the ball leaving Agogo an open goal on the corner of the six yard box, and under no pressure at all the Conference's leading scorer screwed his shot wide of the far post. Agogo's late miss typified the Barnet players' and fans' frustration as Barnet once again proved their Jekyll & Hyde nature. You couldn't fault the players' effort, it was simply a bad day at the office. Man of the Match Neil Midgley - Playing out of position, his tireless running, positional sense and ability to support the attack made him stand out. Bookings Barnet No bookings Margate No bookings Teams Barnet D.Naisbitt, I.Yakubu,
L.Pluck, G.Heald, N.Midgley, J.Doolan, J.Soloman
(T.Oshitola 80), D.Brown, M.Gower, J.Agogo, W.Purser
(F.Toms 61) Margate P.Smith, G.Oates
(L.Shearer 46), B.Edwards, G.Porter, S.Sodje, J.Leberl,
A.Clarke, T.McFlynn, J.Saunders, P.Collins (J.Sigere 87),
L.Braithwaite Other Reports BBC I am no longer linking to Barnet's official site's match reports. Please see here for more information. |
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