Nationwide Conference
24 April 2004

By Josh Grant

Well finally the day had arrived, ten months of football boiled down to one match against one of the worst teams in the league. In glorious sunshine the players took the field for the biggest crowd of the season.

Despite and early headed chance for Liam Hatch which he could not direct goal wards, it was Leigh RMI who took a shock lead in the sixth minute. The tricky Whitman cut inside from the right flank into the area, where he was clipped by Strevens. The referee pointed to the spot, to stun Underhill into an eerie silence, except for the forty or so Leigh supporters. David McNiven blasted the ball home and it seemed that everyone's worst fears were about to become real.

However the visitors' lead only lasted ten minutes and could have and should have been less. There were numerous chances for the hosts, the best falling to Grazioli who fluffed his lines twice when he only had the 'keeper to beat. But on sixteen minutes an adventurous raid down the right saw Yakabu gain a free kick. Gamble took the free kick and Yakubu arrived unmarked at the back post to head past the impressive Martin.

The game really should have been finished by halftime with Barnet wasting chance after chance. Hatch missed to clear cut chances when he only had the 'keeper to beat whilst Strevens' shot was tipped wide of the goal after being put clear through by Grazioli. From the resulting corner Hatch managed somehow to clip the bar from only two yards out. Another corner late on in the half saw Maddix's header easily saved as the hosts went into halftime needing a goal in the second half.

Second Half

Leigh's suicidal defending did not stop in the second half, with Strevens wasting two reasonable early chances. However a goal seemed inevitable. After a shot which trickled past the post from Grazioli, Barnet did go ahead in the match in the fifty-eighth. Grazioli provided a classy finished when through on goal to beat Martin and send Underhill into ecstasy.

Barnet's lead could have been increased but Ian Hendon missed a penalty in the sixty sixth minute. Joe gamble purposefully run down the left and superbly cut the ball back to Grazioli. His shot beat Martin but substitute Coyne handled the ball on the line. He was given his marching orders but Hendon's penalty was straight down the middle and was comfortably saved by Martin.

There were yet more chances after that but Barnet seemed content with the lead and Leigh never really looked like scoring. Barnet saw the match through to deservedly gain the three points needed to finish in the playoffs.

Match Photos

Fifty two photos of the game by Chris Holland.

Bookings

Barnet

L.Hatch, 70, unsporting behaviour

Leigh RMI

M.Price, 90, dissent
L.Coyne, 66, sent off - deliberate handball

Referee: Lewis, G

Teams

Barnet

S.Gore, I.Hendon, S.King, C.Plummer, D.Maddix, I.Yakabu (M.Rooney 83), J.Gamble, G.Lopez, B.Strevens (S.Clist 85), G.Grazioli (G.Pearson 89), L.Hatch

Unused substitutes: L.Roach, R.Millard

Leigh RMI

I.Martin, C.Rezai, M.Price, M.Lancaster, G.Ellison (L.Coyne 61), G.Holmes, S.Smith, M.Daniel (D.Whitehead 46), A.Roscoe (C.McGrath 68), T.Whitman, D.McNiven

Unused substitutes: G.Tench, B.Ashmole

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