Nationwide Conference
20 November 2004

Note, other reports show the third goal as being an own goal from Flynn. But it actually came off the crossbar and bounced off Hatch into the goal. Well, that's my version but doubtless there's others! The report below concurs with my version, Ed.

By Iain Dalziel of This is Bees

Barnet bounced back from their FA Cup horror against Bath to beat fellow high flyers Accrington Stanley 3-0 at Underhill.

The home side welcoming back Dwane Lee after his suspension, but Nicky Bailey was unavailable again due to a knee problem. This saw Strevens play in midfield, on the right, with Hatch partnering Grazioli up front. Accrington went into the game full of confidence on the back of a 5-0 home win against Northwich Victoria last weekend. The win moved them up to third in the table.

The game started with Barnet on top. In a reasonably paced first ten minutes Barnet tried to push for an early goal, but were having no real chances. Stanley had the first chance of the game in the tenth minute. A mix up between Yakubu and Tynan led to a poor clearance from the scouse 'keeper. This led to Flitcroft winning the ball with several players getting forward with him. However, deciding to go it alone his shot went wide.

After this scare Barnet started to press again, but had to wait a while for their pressure to pay off and inevitabley reward them with a goal. After a few chances which caused no serious trouble for Accrington, Barnet's pressure paid off. In the twenty sixth minute Bees centre back Simon King received the ball thirty yards out. Un-challenged the England non-league international brought the ball forward until he was just outside the area. There he struck a sweet left footed shot which beat Jon Kennedy and embedded itself in the bottom corner. In his sixtieth Barnet game it was only his second goal for the club, but a fine strike it was.

After the goal the Bees enjoyed a reasonable spell, up until half time when Accrington started to push forward again. Minutes before the end of the first half Stanley's top scorer John Mullin missed a great chance to draw them level. Put through one on one the eight goal centre forward hit his shot just too wide and just too high from his target of the top corner.

After this late first half let off Barnet went off still ahead, 1-0 up at the break.

Second Half

Barnet began the second half in a similair fashion to that of the first, but this time looked more dangerous and likely to score. However, after a good first five minutes Accrington picked themselves up and started to attack. A good move, combined with some poor Barnet defending led to McEvilly getting through on goal. His shot was well blocked by Tynan, but Mullin followed up and slotted the ball home. Yet his celebrations were short lived as the linesman had his flag up for offside. Again the Bees had a lucky escape, whether Mullin was actually offside was very questionable.

Stanley were not having the best of afternoon's and it got worse when just minutes after they had a goal disallowed Barnet went up the other end and made it 2-0. In a frantic bit of pressure the ball was eventually laid off by Ben Strevens to Richie Graham who was just inside the area. Keeping his composure the former Northern Ireland under-21 international drove his low shot past Kennedy and into the bottom corner, giving Barnet a valuable two goal cushion.

Accrington still wouldn't be defeated and still had plenty of time to get something. In the sixty fifth minute Lee McEvilly was given a brilliant chance from all of six yards. However, the young forward close range effort was superbly knocked round the post by the body of Scott Tynan.

The Bees were weathering the Stanley pressure well and should've got a third when Dean Sinclair broke from the half way line. The ex-Norwich man won the ball wide right on the half way line and went into his trademark burst of pace. Cutting in from the right Sinclair was not tackled but when baring down on goal he failed to keep his cool and mis hit his shot wide of the post, much to the relief of Kennedy.

In the final ten minutes Accrington pushed forward for a goal, but had lost the venom in their attack.

Two minutes from time with the game seemingly won Barnet rubbed salt into Accrington's wounds. Stanley defender Flynn headed the ball back to his 'keeper, under no pressure. However, the header was too powerful and lobbed Jon Kennedy. Yet it didn't go straight in, bouncing up and hitting the under side of the bar. As it was coming down Liam Hatch came charging in and appeared to get the final touch, on the goal line, to make it 3-0 to Barnet.

After three minutes of stoppage time the referee brought play to a close on a wet Underhill. The final whistle was met by the Barnet supporters with a great reception for Paul Fairclough and his players. Last week's FA Cup shock had clearly been forgotten about and the Bees looked as good as ever. Unfortunately for Paul Fairclough's side Carlisle grabbed a late winner in their game against Dagenham to keep the pressure on the Bees. Still, Barnet still top the table by four points, but will be aware of the tough task next weekend, Aldershot Town away.

Iain Dalziel's Man of the Match

Simon King, he's having such a good season and his performance in this game summed it up. His goal was very well struck and his defensive display was top class. Graham was also very impressive causing Cavanagh all sorts of trouble all afternoon.

Bookings

Barnet

None

Accrington Stanley

Flitcroft

Ref: S Rubery (Ilford)

Teams

Barnet

Tynan, Hendon, Yakubu, King, Clist, Strevens, Lee, Sinclair, Graham, Grazioli (McBean 90), Hatch

Subs Not Used: Millard, Lopez, Maddix, Roache

Accrington Stanley

Crichton, Butler (Smith 88), Williams, Flynn, Cavanagh, Craney, Brannan, Proctor (Jagielka 79), Flitcroft, Mullin, McEvilly

Subs Not Used: Alcock, Cook, Howarth

Other Reports

BBC

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