Npower League Two
Saturday 05 May 2012 15:00

The Luck will run out one day, then again Maybe Not...

By Andrew Taylor

THE BEES ARE STAYING UP! After an enthralling 90 minutes at the Pirelli Stadium Barnet came out victorious but only after a rollercoaster of emotions was experienced.

Goals from Mark Byrne and skipper Mark Hughes won it but that only tells half the story.

There was one expected change in The Bees line up as Ben May came in for the "injured" Izale McLeod who was on the bench, Barnet started well and on 5 minutes were awarded a free kick outside the area, Mark Byrne stepped up and although didn't seem to strike it too well it cannoned off a Burton defender totally wrong footing keeper Ross Atkins in the home side's goal and hitting the back of the net, what an opening and the news would no doubt be poorly received at Edgar Street.

Burton recovered well and were soon on the front foot searching for an equaliser, we were now in the knowledge that Hereford were also ahead as tensions in the away end started to rise, after a couple of near misses the equaliser eventually came, a very well worked move involving Calvin Zola who passed the ball to Jacques Maghoma who turned and powered the ball past Dean Brill into the corner of the net, Barnet can't say they weren't warned as since the goal it had been all Burton, things got worse as news of Hereford going two up circulated, this could be a long afternoon.

Three minutes before half time there was a moment of controversy, Clovis Kamdjo missed his clearance and Zola found space and was surely going to give The Brewers the lead. However, he took a poor touch and Byrne closed in and nudged Zola off the ball, the striker fell to the floor and a penalty was awarded, a very very soft award. This was a big moment, Hereford had gone three up and now minutes before the break Burton had a golden chance to take the lead. Zola's penalty was more suited to Twickenham Stadium than a football pitch as he skied it over the crossbar, a real let off for Barnet as the half ended it could have been worse but as it stood they were going out of the Football League.

There was a change for The Bees at the start of the second half, Izale McLeod came on for Scott McGleish also Michael Hector reverted to right back with Mark Byrne going into midfield. Barnet started well and you could see whatever Martin Allen had said it was having an impact Ricky Holmes became more involved and the midfield battle was now favouring the team in white. Amazingly Torquay had got two back at Hereford which got the travelling fans in good voice and right behind the lads. Sam Deering missed a real sitter when putting wide from six yards but what followed sent the Bee Army into hysterics. Some good work by Holmes down the right meant the ball fell loose to Hughes and from 25 yards out smashed a shot that went out of Atkins' reach and firmly into the corner of the net - cue the celebrations and Hughes strolled over to the supporters arms out-stretched, the skipper had truly delivered the captain's duty.

What followed for the last half hour was real heart rendering stuff, it wasn't that Burton were creating much but more that Ben May, McLeod and Deering all had chances to make the game safe but couldn't take them and so into the closing seconds the home side forced a couple of corners, from the first the cross came in and was met by Patrick Ada it looked like it was heading into the top corner but Dean Brill, who had little else to do all day, made a stunning save to turn the ball away past the post - it was not only a match-winner but so much more.

As Burton tried to launch another attack the whistle blew and Barnet were safe once again, Hereford's win was in vain and the six points picked up by Martin Allen in his three game stint was crucial. The players and staff came over to thank the supporters at the end. It was another final day survival battle and another successful one, a few well deserved weeks off now follow, onwards and upwards.

Bookings

Barnet

Byrne (50)
McLeod (80)

Burton Albion

Palmer (45+1)
Zola (64)
Stanton (80)

Ref: Miller

Teams

Barnet

Brill, Mustoe, Hector, Saville, Kamdjo, Hughes, Byrne, Deering, McGleish (McLeod - 46' ), Holmes, May

Unused substitutes: O'Brien, Downing, Yiadom, N'Diaye

Burton Albion

Atkins, Stanton, James, Corbett, Ada, Palmer, Taylor (Pearson - 66), Maghoma, Dyer, Bolder (Phillips - 75), Zola

Unused substitutes: Poole, Clucas, Garnett

Other Reports

BBC
Barnet Times
The Guardian [very good!]

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

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