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Nationwide Conference By Iain Dalziel In a fiery derby Barnet and Stevenage Borough shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw. However, the game was marred by controversy, both sides ending the game with ten men. Barnet were without Plummer and Rooney through injury, and also decide to bring in Guy Lopez at the expense of Ismail Yakabu, due to the return of Simon King. Stevenage were without Carroll, Goodlife and ex-Barnet left back Lee Flynn. Aside from these three, Boro had a full set of players to choose from. Barnet went into the game as the favourites, and would go above Shrewsbury, and back into third if they won. Boro need all the points they can get if they are to keep their fading play-off ambitions alive, and would be up for this one for certain. After all the waiting and hype the game finally began. Both sides began reasonably well, a lot of good passing in the midfield from either side. It was very tight and in the early stages there were no clear chances. After the quarter of an hour mark Barnet started to get into their stride and carve out some chances. Grazioli and Hatch were both looking sharp up front, and were sure to give Bunce and Laker trouble throughout. Some nice work out on the right by the Bees saw the game’s first chance. Liam Hatch went on what is now becoming a trademark winding run and got in behind the Boro defence. However, the angle wasn’t in Hatch’s favour and his powerfully hit shot went wide of the post. Nevertheless this was encouraging from Barnet as they had started to find cracks in the Stevenage back line. Barnet were playing well, playing some neat football and looking a lot more dangerous than their North Hertfordshire counterparts. Grazioli was looking promising, but although he was making some good runs off the ball he wasn’t seeing much of it himself. In the twentieth minute the former Boro striker chased after a through ball, only for Stevenage ‘keeper Perez to get their first. However as Perez gathered the ball he also collide with Grazioli, landing very awkwardly on one of his legs. Initially it didn’t look as though any damage had been done, but shortly the Boro physio was called on. After a good four minutes Perez was eventually stretched off. Later on scans showed that the French goalkeeper broke both his tibia and his fibula. I’m sure I speak on behalf of all of Barnet’s supporters when I say that I hope Perez makes a full and speedy recovery, genuinely get well soon Lionel. Boro replaced Perez with former first choice ‘keeper Mark Westhead. Within five minutes of coming on Westhead made a big impact. The substitute goalkeeper making a tremendous one handed save, from Liam Hatch’s close range effort. Barnet were still in control and Ben Strevens forced another save from Westhead, but the linesman flagged for offside. The Barnet striker come winger was making his hundredth appearance for the club, the current longest serving player, at only twenty three years of age. After a good spell of Bees pressure Stevenage began to settle down and start to look a bit more dangerous. Like in the early stages Boro were maintaining possession well in the middle of the park. In particular Justin Richards looked a threat. Out wide and in the middle when the former Bristol Rovers attacker got the ball, there always looked like something mat happen. The Boro captain Watson was playing some good balls forward and making some good runs himself. However, despite now appearing to have found their feet in the game Stevenage weren’t looking any sort of threat to the Bees goal. Bankole had to gather, rather than save the ball on a number of occasions, and was put under no pressure. Shortly after the half time whistle blew after six minutes of stoppage time. Stevenage ending the half on top, although over all Barnet were looking the better side. With just over two thousand in the ground, both sets of fans were creating a superb atmosphere. Even during the half time interval the singing didn’t stop, as the banter between the fans carried on right through the break! Second Half The second half started in a similair way to the opening forty five minutes. Once again, good passing, but no real chances. However, the tempo had risen since the start and before long both sides began to look dangerous. The two sides looked most dangerous from crosses and set pieces. This was the trend for much of the second half, Redmile getting forward at every opportunity for Barnet. After the hour mark Stevenage, for the second time, enjoyed a good short spell of pressure. Yet, once again there were no clear openings and anything that ‘Big George’ was given he dealt with well. The game’s first moment of controversy came in the sixty seventh minute. As Hendon gathered the ball for a throw he was given a slight push. In response the Barnet captain pushed Brennan back and almost immediately several players got involved in a rather silly fracas. Both Ben Strevens and Ian Hendon were booked for barnet, Brennan saw yellow foe Boro. It was now turning into a real derby game, tackles flying in all over the place, some nice football and a phenomenal atmosphere. However, just three minutes after one incident occurred, another took place. Renowned for giving his all, Ian Hendon went in hard in the challenge on Brough. This again sparked a bit of trouble more pushes and shoves being exchanged. However, what next happened looked like it could be a turning point. Referee Mr. Booth, brandished the red card to Hendon for a second bookable offence. Total uproar on and off the pitch as the Bees were now going to have to battle on with ten men. After much protest Hendon trudged off. From the free kick Boro caused no problem, Bankole catching the ball easily before booting it up the park. Three minutes later Liam Hatch was flying forward at full speed. His run came to an abrupt halt when Tunisian attacker Dino Maamria caught Hatch, sending him tumbling to the ground. This time the largest brawl of all took place. After the Barnet physio Dominic Doyle came on to treat Hatch it al really ‘kicked off’. Maamria was shown a red card for violent conduct and on his way off knocked Doyle to the floor. Doyle then reacted and every player on the pitch, bar Bankole, joined in the mass brawl. The confrontation went on for at least two minutes, event the linesman on the far side had to run to the opposite side of the pitch to try and stop it. Barnet had Mark Williams booked in the incident, after the sub entered the field without consent, everyone backing their own side. Only Watson was booked for Boro although on another day many more cards would’ve been shown. After the red card it went back to football rather than fighting! With even numbers again Barnet were in control. Clist’s effort flew over the bar but still was an encouraging sign for the Bees. Grazioli, who had had a quiet second half almost, got the connection a free kick after turning his marker well in the six yard box, but Westhead gathered the ball well. Stevenage were keen to hit the Bees on the break, but they just couldn’t conjure up a decent chance. With five minutes left Gamble was put through. It looked like this might be the moment, but the little Irish midfielder was closed down well. Not panicking he neatly laid it to Ben Strevens, twenty yards from goal Strevens took two touches before striking the ball sweetly, in the direction of the bottom corner. Yet despite the fabulous effort, the brilliant Mark Westhead was more than up to it, turning it round the post for a corner. Nothing happened from the corner and it looked like Boro were going to make that break they wanted. However, Bankole leaped and caught Elding’s cross well. In stoppage time Pearson came on for his Underhill debut. In his short spell he looked good, in particular, a superb flick to Grazioli. Yet neither side could find the net and the referee blew for full time with the score ending 0-0. Although only taking the point Barnet played well and on another day may well have one. Now in three meetings at Underhill Barnet have never scored a home league goal against Stevenage. Despite no goals it was a very entertaining game, the atmosphere really helping things. Unfortunately there were a lot of cards; five players on each side saw a card of either yellow or red. So, maybe no the exact result Barnet were looking for, but a good performance nonetheless, in a real derby game. Iain Dalziel’s Man of the Match Matt Redmile Quotes from the Manager "It was a fantastic local derby between two good teams. It was full of commitment and full of passion. "Both sets of players gave everything. I think the referee could have been a little more flexible and allowed for the fact that it was a derby and that there was lots of passion out there." (of Hendon) "I thought his first yellow card was a bit harsh." Bookings Barnet S.King, 40, dissent Stevenage M.Brough, 22, unsporting
behaviour Referee: Booth, R Teams Barnet A.Bankole, I.Hendon, M.Redmile, S.King, D.Maddix, J.Gamble, G.Lopez (I.Yakabu 76), B.Strevens, S.Clist (G.Pearson 90), G.Grazioli, L.Hatch (M.Williams 88) Unused substitutes: T.Taggart, S.Gore Stevenage L.Perez (M.Westhead 25), B.Laker, N.Bunce, M.Warner, D.Brennan (G.Boyd 75), J.Gould (J.Brady 86), S.Watson, M.Brough, A.Elding, J.Richards, D.Maamria Unused substitutes: R.Weatherstone, M.Smith Other Reports Nationwide
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