Nationwide Conference
16 October 2004

By Iain Dalziel of This is Bees

Barnet moved six points clear at the top, putting in an excellent performance and winning 3-1 at much fancied Carlisle United.

The Bees were once again without leading goal scorer Giuliano Grazioli, along with latest injury victim Liam Hatch. The lack of available forwards led to eighteen year old striker Warren McBean called into the squad as a sub.

Carlisle were pretty much at full strength. Another bonus for them was the support. The crowd of 9,215 was only two hundred and seventeen away from breaking the record attendance for a Conference fixture.

So, in front of the huge crowd the highly anticipated game kicked off. It started at a high tempo, with the home side looking to stamp down their authority early on. After all of twenty seconds a good ball was played into the box, only for Yakubu to hammer it away. The clearance found Graham on the left wing. The Northern Irish midfielder ran at the Carlisle defence and hit a shot from the edge of the area. The shot was blocked, but it gave the Bees a great opportunity, as the referee gave a penalty for a hand ball.

After a slight protest from the Carlisle players, Barnet captain Ian Hendon put the ball on the spot. Whistle's and boo's rang around Brunton Park as the number four ran up. Luckily for Barnet, Hendon wasn't affected by it and put the ball past Glennon into his bottom right hand corner.

This was the dream start for Barnet, less than three minutes in and they were already 1-0 up.

For the next ten minutes Barnet were on top. Though they weren't causing Glennon any direct problems the defence were getting plenty as the Bees looked to repeat the previous week's feat, against Dagenham, and score two early goals.

However, after enjoying a good opening fifteen minutes Carlisle began to look like the dangerous side that they are. United's leading scorer Hawley was now seeing a lot more of the ball, King and Yakubu had to be at their best to keep the Bees ahead. The next key intervention to prevent Carlisle equalising came from Scott Tynan. The Barnet 'keeper made a fabulous full stretch save to deny Chris Billy levelling the scores. The Blues had another good chance when Hawley chased down a long ball, Tynan decided to come, but made the wrong decision as he was beaten to it. Hawley hit the bouncing ball first time over the head of Tynan and goalwards. However, the shot was poorly placed and bounced just wide. A real let off for the Bees. After this Carlisle continued to press, but the Bees defence remained solid.

After weathering a bit of pressure from United, Barnet again were looking good going forward. On twenty five minutes Lee Andrews was lucky not be sent off, for a rash tackle on Strevens, giving the Bees a free kick on the edge of the area. However, Barnet wasted the free kick, but kept the pressure on.

Thirty minutes in, Dean Sinclair received the ball out on the right hand side. With many players in central positions the ex-Norwich man had few options, bar a long ball back to the advancing Hendon. Deciding against laying it back to the Barnet captain Sinclair ran at the defence. After stepping over the ball several times Sinclair hit a low cross into the danger area. With the ball moving at quite a pace, Carlisle defender Kevin Gray met it first and stuck out a leg to clear it. However, not anticipating the speed at which the ball was coming it hit his leg and buried itself in the bottom corner to give Barnet a two goal advantage. At the other end of the ground on the uncovered Petteril end the Bees fans went barmy, astonished at what was going on.

This goal really woke the home side up and now Barnet were having to defend much harder than before. Carlisle were continually getting close to goal, but just couldn't beat the last defender, whether it was Clist, King, Yakubu or Hendon. Their best free chance came in the fortieth minute. Ex-Walsall man Karl Hawley had a free shot. However, he couldn't make it count and mis hit it completely, the ball trickling harmlessly past Tynan's post.

With half time approaching everything was looking good for Barnet. They'd defended excellently, if a little messily at times, and were in a great position. However, right at the end of the first half they did the last thing they wanted to do and conceded a goal.

Second Half

Brendan McGill was given a free chance on the edge of the six yard box, with just Tynan to beat. The former Sunderland man struck his shot well, but it was brilliantly and bravely saved by Scott Tynan. Yet unfortunately for him and Barnet, King and Clist were both running back to help. The ball flew off Tynan and smacked against one of the two Barnet defenders. With Tynan on the floor the ball went over him and into the net, captain Ian Hendon couldn't quite stretch and clear it out. This goal put Carlisle right back in it. A few minutes later the half time whistle sounded. Barnet led, but Carlisle were clearly happy after their late first half goal.

As expected Carlisle came out strong. They began the second half at a fast pace and once again the Barnet defence had to be on top of their game. Hawley looked dangerous throughout, but continued to fail with the final effort. A good example of this came in the fiftieth minute. Hawley was again put through, this time one on one, but squandered his effort wide. For much of the first half of the second period Carlisle were all over the Bees. Tynan had to be on hand with a number of good saves as Barnet clung onto their slender lead.

The closest Carlisle came was around the hour mark. Vieira, the on-loan Brazilian, beat Tynan and his shot looked to be on its way in. Yet somehow Hendon got back and superbly stopped the ball on the line and then cleared it. The blues were rampant, but weren't finding that killer touch to get the all important goal.

With around fifteen minutes to go Carlisle won a corner. From it Tynan made yet another superb block from close range and again it was hammered away by a solid and determined Barnet back line. It was latched onto by Roache, who minutes earlier had had a very reasonable shout for a penalty not given. The incident came when Sinclair had a fierce drive parried out by Matt Glennon. It had fallen to Roache but he, it appeared, had been pulled down. However, on this occasion Roache was forced wide, but won a corner.

Left back Clist came across to take it and from the initial positioning it looked like it was going to be played short. Yet, Clist swung it into the area. Here it went to the far side of the six yard box, where it found Dwane Lee. The man who recently scored a header at Exeter rose high and once again directed his header perfectly, flying past Glennon and the United defence, going straight into the top corner. Once again there was bedlam on the away terrace as Barnet restored their two goal lead and effectively, with twelve minutes left, secured the game.

After this goal Carlisle lost their urgency and it was inevitable that Barnet had this game in the bag. The Bees were now cooly passing it around and putting on a show for the huge, but generally, disappointed crowd.

Following an uneventful final ten minutes the referee blew for full time, ending the game and Carlisle's unbeaten run. Players and supporters of Barnet rejoiced, surely will be one of Barnet's best results this season? Though they were at times under pressure the Bees did themselves proud with a monumental performance.

Next Saturday York City, another ex-league club visit Underhill. With Barnet flying there is every chance of a bumper crowd. The win today though may well be one of the most crucial this season.

Iain Dalziel's Man of the Match

I couldn't single out just one player so here is a quick analysis of each player's performance:

Tynan - Made some excellent brave saves to keep the Bees ahead, top display.

Hendon - Quite possibly his best display of the season, defended superbly and got forward equally well.

King - Had a solid game, making some crucial takes.

Yakubu - Let very little get past him all afternoon.

Clist - Outstanding, supposedly a makeshift left back, but that was a brilliant defensive performance.

Bailey - Had a real 'no-nonsense' game, wasn't afraid to make a tough challenge and again displayed some excellent passing skills.

Lee - Brilliant header, some good passing shown too.

Sinclair - Good ball for the second goal, so many times burst past Carlisle players, did just about everything right.

Graham - Was involved in nearly every attack, caused problems down the left all afternoon.

Roache - Tried and worked hard, at times showed signs that he's still got a bit to learn, was given a rough passage by Gray.

Strevens - Supported Roache well, won a lot in the air and like many passed the ball round well, gave it his all.

Match Photos

Twenty-five photos of the game by Chris Holland.

Bookings

Barnet

Strevens
Roache

Carlisle

Billy
Lumsdon
Murphy

Ref: I Nolan (Lancashire)

Teams

Barnet

Tynan, Hendon, King, Yakubu, Clist, Graham, Lee, Sinclair, Bailey, Strevens, Roache

Subs Not Used: Maddix, Lopez, Millard, McBean, Batt

Carlisle

Glennon, Andrews, Gray, Grand, Cowan (Farrell 79), McGill, Billy, Lumsdon, Murphy, Hawley, Vieira (Henderson 86), Henderson (Arnison 90)

Subs Not Used: McDonagh, Westwood

Other Reports

Barnet Times
BBC

If you know of any reports please email me the link on info@bfcsa.net

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