Nationwide Conference
26 December 2003

By James Hall

A bizarre goal three minutes into stoppage time gave a battling Woking side an undeserved point against conference high-flyers Barnet.

The strike came as virtually the last action of the game as a lively Barnet side were cruelly denied all three points with Woking's first shot on goal in the second half.

Raphael Nade was credited with the goal that was bundled home from close range after Danny Maddix headed a corner back towards his own goal.

Barnet started the game brightly, without creating a clear-cut opportunity. Woking in turn drew first blood. From a long throw in, Neil Smith was the first beneficiary of Barnet's lack of aerial prowess when his header beat Shane Gore at his near post from 10 yards.

This goal livened the hosts, who playing Nade and Richard Harris up front had no lack of height. Woking's game plan reflected this as they threw long ball after long ball into the box, like a circa 21st century Wimbledon. With the strong wind holding the ball up in the first half, this plan worked and when Harris' strong looping header found the net after 15 minutes, he was unfortunate to see the assistant referee with his flag raised.

Then came the introduction of Anthony McNamee, on for the injured Simon King. This had an almost instant impact. After a couple of lively runs from McNamee, Chris Plummer's long ball pitted Ben Strevens in a race with Ashley Bayes, the Woking goalkeeper. Strevens beat Bayes, who blocked the striker's initial effort which fell kindly to Joe Gamble. His shot from distance was blocked on the line before the ever-hungry Strevens followed up to bundle home the visitors' equaliser.

Then McNamee began to skip past Woking players with ease. One such darting run saw Giuliano Grazioli bring the best out of Bayes, who smothered his shot at the nearpost. Strevens then had two shots narrowly miss the host's goal after two good Grazioli Knock-downs.

Second Half

In the second half, the bees took the game to Woking, as the host's long-ball tactic failed to worry the bees' defence, with the wind often blowing the ball too long for the forwards.

Ian Hendon shot narrowly wide after a one-two with Strevens before McNamee brought a fine save from Bayes after a fine run down the left flank. Plummer then planted a Mark Rooney Corner narrowly over the bar.

Then came the goal that the bees richly deserved. Hendon's lofted pass was controlled beautifully by Grazioli, who in turn slid Strevens in with ease. His low, drilled shot went across the dive off Bayes to give Barnet the lead.

McNamee and Strevens both then put shots off the host's goal. Gamble then missed a great chance to seal all three points. McNamee beat two men, and his cut back found Gamble with time and space on the penalty spot, but the former lifeguard could only drill his low shot wide of Ashley Bayes' goal.

With three minutes of stoppage time drawing to a close, both teams seamed to be waiting for the final whistle to come as the rain lashed down on the Kingfield Stadium. Nade had other ideas as Barnet conceded at late equaliser on the road for the second time this season.

Man of the match

Ben Strevens; Superb, committed performance from the Bee's longest serving player.

Match Photos

Twenty two photos of the game by Chris Holland.

Bookings

Barnet

No bookings

Woking

B.Townsend, 60, unsporting behaviour
N.Smith, 81, unsporting behaviour

Referee: Whitestone, D

Teams

Barnet

S.Gore, I.Hendon, S.King (A.McNamee 20), C.Plummer, D.Maddix, I.Yakabu (L.Hatch 79), J.Gamble, M.Rooney, G.Pitcher, G.Grazioli, B.Strevens

Unused substitutes: G.Silk, T.Taggart, R.Millard

Woking

A.Bayes, J.Boardman, N.Sharp, B.Townsend, G.MacDonald, S.Ferguson, L.Cockerill, I.Selley, N.Smith, R.Harris (A.Foyewa 61), R.Nade

Unused substitutes: D.Haule, S.Harper, S.Canham, J.Campbell

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