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Coca Cola League Two By Robin Thomas Barnet’s disappointing recent run of results continued at the Causeway Stadium as they slipped to their 4th defeat of the season at the hands of a disciplined yet inhibited Wycombe Wanderers team. Star striker Nathan Tyson’s 9th goal in 9 league games ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides, in spite of a determined second half showing from the Bees. Barnet persisted with the 4-5-1 formation which has been the subject of much debate amongst Bees fans on the terraces and in cyberspace, with the minor modification of Ben Bowditch being brought into the midfield to assist Dwane Lee in protecting the back four. However, this slightly more defensively-minded line up could not prevent Wycombe from opening the scoring after 21 minutes. Just moments earlier Giuliano Grazioli had come within inches of giving Barnet the lead as he controlled Ian Hendon’s angled cross on his chest but saw his attempted lob deflected narrowly wide of the post by Wanderers’ keeper Frank Talia. The referee bizarrely awarded a goal kick, and within a minute insult was added to injury by Tyson’s sucker punch. A clever pass from Joe Burnell allowed the quicksilver striker to race beyond Anthony Charles and slide a neat left-footed shot beyond Ross Flitney. After the goal Wycombe went on to dominate the remainder of the first half. The closest they came to adding to their lead was when Mooney headed down for Torres whose shot was parried onto the post by the impressive Flitney. This was the last significant action in a torrid first half for the Bees, who trudged off at the half time whistle knowing that they were very much still in the match, but in need of real improvement in the second period. Second Half Signs of encouragement were soon apparent after the break, as the ageing Wanderers midfield sat deeper in front of their back four and the Bees accepted the invitation to take the attacking initiative. On fifty five minutes Hendon’s cross eluded Grazioli but bounced invitingly for Nicky Bailey, who found space in front of Senda as he ghosted in from the left hand side, 15 yards from goal. Unfortunately the midfield ace could not control his header and it sailed into the bank of gleeful Wanderers fans behind Talia’s goal. Wanderers responded to this warning shot across their bows by creating the chance that should have sealed the game for them. However, Tyson hit his low shot within the reach of Flitney when in yards of space in front of goal. Smart work again from the Barnet keeper, who had earlier made a difficult save look straightforward as he tipped Williamson’s header over the crossbar. Barnet pressed on in search of an equaliser after this let off, and created a gilt edged opportunity in the seventy fifth minute. Damien Batt, increasingly involved from the unfamiliar position of left back, cut inside and played an incisive pass behind the Wanderers defence. Grazioli, looking sharper than at any point this season, raced onto it but when the faintest of touches would almost certainly have diverted the ball beyond Talia, he opted to control the ball and as it looped up, he was only able to attempt a lob which was cleared from under his own crossbar by Williamson. The ball then fell to Graham, who blasted high and wide from just 15 yards. This was the cue for a despairing cry to ring out from the travelling faithful, for whom more anguish was to follow in the 82nd minute as a final, golden opportunity went begging. With the Chairboys’ defence stretched after a sustained period of pressure, Bailey picked out Bowditch in a central position just 15 yards from goal. Under challenge, he mis-hit his shot, yet it ran through to Grazioli, stood with his back to goal on the edge of the six yard box. As the crowd of nearly five thousand held its breath in anticipation of what looked likely to be a certain goal, the Bees marksman played the ball to Dean Sinclair who, from five yards, stroked it with his right instep, only to see Talia pull off a stunning save and push the ball to safety. Sinclair will be more aware than anyone that he should have given the goalkeeper no chance whatsoever, but credit must go to Talia for a quite remarkable effort. In spite of the late introduction of the lively Roach, who saw a well-struck shot comfortably fielded by Talia, Barnet were unable to find the elusive equalizer, and have now played 5 matches since their last victory. This performance marked a considerable improvement on last week’s defeat at the hands of local rivals Orient, however, and Paul Fairclough will be keen to impress upon his charges that this is no time to panic. The Bees, still short of several key players through injury, will feel they deserved a point against one of the division’s fancied teams, and must believe that with a little more self-belief and good fortune results will improve sooner rather than later. Quotes from the Manager "I said to my players at half-time that I wanted something out of the game. We might not have left with any points, but we left with some pride. "I've taken a lot heart from the second-half performance. Our performance in the first half was below par but we hung in there. My players are big characters. The weak-natured would have folded. "The players are disappointed. We gave everything in the second half and were the stronger side in the latter stages, but lost it in the first half. "The lads are very disappointed not to have got something from the game." Bookings Barnet Hendon Wycombe None Ref: P Miller (Bedfordshire) Teams Barnet Flitney, Hendon, Batt, King, Charles, Bailey, Sinclair, Lee, Bowditch (Roache 86), Graham, Grazioli Subs Not Used: Tynan, Norville, Soares, Strevens Wycombe Talia, Senda, Easton, Johnson, Williamson, Torres (Stonebridge 78), Oakes, Lee (Bloomfield 59), Burnell (Betsy 66), Tyson, Mooney Subs Not Used: Williams, Dixon Match Stats Possession: Shots: Corners: Fouls: Bookings: Other League Two Scores Macclesfield 1 - 4
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