Nationwide Conference
11 December 2004

By Iain Dalziel of This is Bees

Barnet stretched their lead at the top of the Conference to an impressive thirteen points, after coming back from a goal down to win 3-1 at Gravesend & Northfleet.

Following Tuesday's win away at Crawley and with no injuries or suspensions Fairclough went for the same starting eleven. Lopez returning on the bench the only change to the Bees squad. 'Fleet were also able to select a strong side, but unlike Barnet their form in recent weeks has been poor, especially after their good start to the campaign. Going into the game Gravesend had failed to win any of their last nine league games.

The game started with Barnet creating the first chances. From the off Grazioli looked sharp, making it appear that Gravesend's Chris Moore would be in for a tough afternoon. Behind him in goal former Ipswich man, James Pullen, was called into action by Grazioli. However, Barnet's sixteen goal striker failed to make it seventeen, his shot being well saved and held by Pullen.

After a good start from Barnet Gravesend started to get into the game too, one time Bees forward Roy Essandoh going close. His best effort came when he headed past Tynan, only for his header to be nodded back off the line by Simon Clist.

In a quick first fifteen minutes both sides enjoyed a fair share of possession, but no real clear cut chances were created. Pullen prevented Grazioli again, saving his effort at the back post; though the striker never caught it as well as he would have wanted to.

After a balanced start the deadlock was broken. Shortly after Grazioli's effort the 'Fleet surged forward with another ex-bee, Manny Omoyinmi, running at Barnet's back line. Cutting in from the right he beat Clist and King with ease before side footing the ball toward goal. On its way to the net Yakubu tried to stop it, yet this just made sure as via the Bees defender the ball went past Scott Tynan to give Andy Ford's men the lead.

The goal seemed to have little effect on Barnet. Though they were now trailing their performance level failed to change. In the later first half stages a well-struck Liam Hatch effort from the edge of the area forced Pullen to make a dramatic save, but otherwise the Bees looked very ordinary.

Gravesend however were in full flow. With the Barnet defence looking weaker than usual 'Fleet sensed an opportunity to push forward and increase their lead. Had the finishing of Sidibe in particular, been better then Gravesend could well have extended their lead.

Yet after a good start the game slowed down and the rest of the half was played out in a rather dull fashion. The only notable thing was the lack of discipline by both sides. Reckless challenges were flying in everywhere, ex-Gravesend striker Hatch at the centre of much of the controversy, his one time team mates given him a tough return to his old stomping ground.

Bar the minor scuffles between players the rest of the half was very dull. Gravesend were on top, but weren't showing much flair. The Bees looked below par and some very solid defending from 'Fleet made things even harder. Referee Mr. Door brought the first half to a close, with Paul Fairclough knowing he would have to give another effective half time team talk, like last Saturday, if his side were to get something from the game.

Second Half

The second half started in a similar way to the end of the first half. Gravesend were still working hard and were more than worthy of their lead.

After a slow first fifteen minutes to the second period, the game's second goal came. With the first chance since the re-start it was Barnet who got a largely undeserved goal. A poor pass by Moore, who after a tough start had kept Grazioli quiet, ended up with the ball falling to Grazioli himself. Just outside the area a shot looked more than possible, however, looking up the league's top scorer threaded it through to Hatch, who had cut in from the right. Keeping his cool Hatch buried the ball past Pullen and into the bottom corner to make things all square.

Unlike when Barnet conceded, this goal got the Bees going and playing the sort of football which has seen them make the top spot their own. After Hatch's goal the Bees got into their stride. Just five minutes after drawing level Barnet took the lead. From a ball into the penalty area Liam Hatch headed the ball across the box. Six yards out ginger midfielder came in and stabbed the bouncing ball past Pullen to put Barnet 2-1 up.

Barnet's quick fire double totally burst Gravesend's bubble. In the space of just five second half minutes Barnet had changed the game totally and were now in full control.

With seventeen minutes to go Barnet sealed the points. The ball was whipped into the box by Hendon and Dean Sinclair connected sweetly, firing past the helpless Pullen and into the bottom corner at the near post. The Bees fans at the other end of the ground could scarcely believe the change they had seen, three goals in just twelve minutes.

For the remaining quarter of an hour Gravesend made an effort to pull off an unlikely comeback. However, their best chance was horribly skied by Pinnock who was given a great chance with ten minutes remaining. Essandoh had a close range header marvellously saved by Tynan, however it counted for little as the linesman had his flag up.

At 3-1 the Bees could now sit back a bit. Fairclough decided to give the front two a rest and Roache and Strevens were brought on. In the late stages of stoppage time Lee Roach was presented with a real chance to make it two goals in two games.

Ben Strevens was put through down the left hand side by Richie Graham. As he came into the box he spotted the run of Roache. Dragging it back perfectly the youngster struck the ball fiercely, only to hit the bar. However, Roache was offered a reprieve when it bounced out straight back to him. Yet this time, despite getting it on target, it was blocked on the line by 'Fleet centre back McCarthy.

In truth had Roache made it four it would have been very harsh on the Kent side. For the first hour they fully deserved their lead and Barnet looked as bad as they had been at any time in what has so far been a most successful season. The whistle blew shortly after Roache's chance, which would have broken a goal difference record for this stage of the season. Barnet's tally so far of a mighty fifty eight goals is just two short of what they achieved in the whole of last season.

Although for two thirds of the game Barnet never looked themselves this was a very good result and in the final third of the game and also of the home side's half of the pitch, it was a good display.

With Carlisle being beaten 1-0 at next week's opponents Tamworth, the goal coming from ex-Bee Matt Redmile, the Bees now have opened up a thirteen point gap. Although Carlisle have a game in hand and it's only at the half way mark, things are looking very encouraging for Paul Fairclough and his team.

Iain Dalziel's Man of the Match

Nicky Bailey, worked tirelessly throughout. Last week against Leigh he looked so unfit, but today showed his pedigree with a superb all round performance. Did well to score too.

Bookings

Barnet

Hendon
Lee
Grazioli

Gravesend

Gledhill
Skinner
Drury
Sidibe

S Dorr (Worcester)

Teams

Barnet

Tynan, Hendon, Clist, Yakubu, King, Bailey, Graham, Lee, Sinclair, Grazioli (Roache 89), Hatch (Strevens 79)

Subs Not Used: Millard, Batt, Lopez

Gravesend

Pullen, Gledhill, Skinner, Chris Moore, McCarthy, Sidibe, Drury, McKimm, Saunders, Essandoh, Omoyinmi (Peters 48), Peters (Pinnock 77)

Subs Not Used: Protheroe, Wilkerson, Lovell

Other Reports

Footymad
BBC
Gravesend Supporters
Gravesend News Shopper

The following are only available to broadband users:

Conference TV Highlights
Conference TV Fairclough Interview

Links supplied by Brian Mackie.

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