Nationwide Conference
09 October 2004

By Iain Dalziel of This is Bees

In front of the Sky TV cameras Barnet trounced their former manager John Still's Dagenham & Redbridge 5-0, to put themselves three points clear at the top.

Barnet captain Ian Hendon returned from injury, him replacing young Batt at right back was the only change from the excellent 3-0 win at Exeter in midweek. Grazioli was again ruled out, this time through illness, meaning that Strevens partnered Hatch up front.

Straight from the off Barnet showed how they wanted to play. The Daggers were immediately put under pressure and after just two minutes they went behind.

Ian Hendon on a typical attacking run down the right played what seemed to be a low cross into the box. However, the Bees skipper clearly mis hit it and it looked to be a harmless toe poke. Yet the ball was ignored by all the Dagenham and Barnet players in the area and ended up trickling into Tony Roberts' bottom right hand corner to give Barnet the lead. A big mistake by a whole host of players allowed the Bees a perfect start.

Hendon's lucky opener clearly gave Barnet confidence to push forward and score another early goal. Liam Hatch and Richard Graham could only be stopped unfairly as the Bees went right at the Dagenham defence. Although they were piling on the pressure it was unlikely that this was going to be easy for Barnet. However, just four minutes after Hendon's goal Ben Strevens made it two. The striker come midfielder rose above the Daggers defence to head home his first goal for the season and double Barnet's lead.

Even after a second Barnet didn't stop pressing Dagenham's defence. Sinclair and Graham were both making their usual charging runs at a bewildered looking Daggers back line. Yet things seemed less rosy for the rampant Bees when Hatch went down injured. He looked to be in some discomfort and was in the end stretchered off to be replaced by young Lee Roache.

Hatch's injury was later confirmed as a dislocated elbow. It was fairly serious and he was sent to Barnet General Hospital where he had it put back into place whilst under anaesthetic.

Barnet still looked dangerous without Liam Hatch and should have scored a third when substitute Lee Roache was put through clear on goal. An exquisite high through ball by Bailey was latched onto by the pacey Roache. However, he fired his shot straight at Roberts, wasting a very good chance to potentially end the Daggers hopes.

Barnet didn't take their foot off the gas, but were under more pressure than before. However, King and Yakubu looked totally solid at the back, giving the Essex side no chances. Yet like with the Bees front line, the defence also suffered a blow. A late first half injury to Ismail Yakubu ended his match at half time. The Bees however still went off at the break upbeat. 2-0 up, but they knew that the game was anything but over.

Second Half

Yakubu's injury led to Damien Batt, who signed a two year deal on Friday, coming on. In a defensive re-shuffle Hendon moved into the middle with twenty year old Batt on the right.

Barnet's change to their defence changed little as far as the game went. Barnet still looked superior, although Dagenham were now showing more fight. King and Hendon had to be at the best to keep the Daggers quiet. Yet although Dagenham looked better they weren't giving Scott Tynan many worries in the Bees goal.

However, Dagenham did beat the young Scouse goalkeeper, but it was ruled offside. A wasted easy chance by Mark Janney, who hit his totally free shot across the goal from close range, and the offside goal were Daggers only two real chances.

After weathering off the Dagenham pressure Barnet started to push forward with more urgency, like that of the first half. After a bit of persistence Barnet finally got the killer third goal. Dean Sinclair neatly knocking the ball over the defence for Lee Roache to stab home his first Conference goal. This time the youngster kept a cool head and fired past Roberts and into his bottom corner.

Like earlier this triggered off a Barnet blitz. All of a sudden the confidence to try things was back and Barnet looked scoring on almost every attack.

After four minutes of solid pressure a fourth goal did come and it was some goal. The outstanding Nicky Bailey received the ball from Graham twenty five yards from goal. Briefly looking up and seeing Roberts slightly off his line bailey went for the spectacular. Unleashing a beautiful curling shot, which flew past everyone and flew straight into the top corner. A truly fabulous effort, one of the best Barnet goals at Underhill in the last few seasons.

Still going forward Barnet went 5-0 up in the seventy sixth minute. Barnet old boy Lee Flynn was judged to have upended Sinclair, in the area and without hesitating the referee gave a penalty. Bees captain Ian Hendon stepped up, aiming to continue his hundred percent record from the spot this season. Emphatically he did! Striking the ball ferociously into the roof of the net, giving Roberts no chance whatsoever.

Barnet didn't stop going forward even after the fifth. Sinclair was desperately unlucky not to add a sixth as was Bailey, both efforts going just off target. Batt also had a failed effort, however his attempt was spectacularly poor. To the youngster's credit he saw the funny side along with the Bees fans on the east terrace.

At 5-0 up it was party time. With each player being asked "what's the score?" by the east terrace faithful.

After ten more minutes of Barnet pressure the whistle blew, drawing a memorable game-for Barnet, to a close. The Bees were outstanding throughout, doing themselves proud on national television. The win puts Barnet three points ahead of Carlisle, where they travel next Saturday. The five goals also means Barnet now also have the best goal difference.

This game was part of an excellent week for Barnet, two impressive wins, by even more impressive margins. Although what's probably most important is that they won heavily twice without Grazioli. Any illusions that Barnet are a one man team are definitely now gone.

Iain Dalziel's Man of the Match

Nicky Bailey, not just because he got the Sky MOTM, but he was genuinely class. I said so many times to my friends how good something he did was. His goal was the icing on the cake that summed up a superb performance. Surely he can't return to the bench now.

Match Photos

Thirty-one photos of the game by Chris Holland.

Quotes from the Manager

"It was great stuff and entertaining football. This was a very good all-round performance considering the eyes of the nation were on us." (The game was live on Sky TV)

Bookings

Barnet

Hendon (45)
Lee (45)
Batt (90)

Dagenham

Cole (51)
Foster (67)
Flynn (75)
Janney (78)
Vickers (81)

Teams

Barnet

Tynan, Hendon, Yakubu (Batt 45), King, Clist, Bailey, Sinclair, Lee, Graham, Hatch (Roache 14), Strevens

Unsed subs: Millard, Lopez, Maddix

Dagenham

Roberts, Foster, Cole, Vickers, Flynn, Janney, Southam, Uddin, Bruce, Moore, Mackail-Smith

Unused subs: Bussey, Leberl, Blackett, Boot, Hill

Other Reports

Barnet Times
BBC

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

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