Nationwide Conference
Saturday 7 December 3.00pm

By Callum Williams

BARNET crashed to another Conference defeat with a disappointing performance on a pitch resembling a cart track in the gloomy surrounds of Manor Park on Saturday.

The Bees, who were without the injured Craig Pope and flu victim Michael Price, made a bright start with Junior Agogo missing an excellent chance after four minutes when he fired across the face of goal.

Nuneaton broke the deadlock in the 13th minute when a straightforward corner by Andy Ducros was swung into the Barnet six-yard box, leaving Barry Williams with the simple task of nodding past Danny Naisbitt.

Barnet levelled on 26 minutes when Agogo crossed low into the Nuneaton six-yard box for Frazer Toms to cheekily back-heel into an unguarded net.

For the remainder of the half, Barnet enjoyed the better of the play with chances falling to Mark Gower and Wayne Purser, who both failed to hit the target.

At half-time, Bees fans seemed confident that their team could pick up maximum points from a mediocre Nuneaton side, who have their problems off the pitch at the present time.

Second Half

Barnet should have taken the lead on 57 minutes when an inswinging corner by Gower was missed by the keeper and was creeping into the net when Conference leading goalscorer Agogo managed to stick out a foot and hook the ball over the bar, much to the disbelief of the Barnet faithful.

Within three minutes, Nuneaton were ahead when a right-footed shot by Sam Ricketts was blocked by the Barnet defence at the expense of a corner. Love’s inswinging flag-kick to far post created havoc in the visiting defence, leaving Dean Walling to net from six yards.

Naisbitt kept Barnet in the game with a good block from McGregor, but Nuneaton increased their advantage on 82 minutes when the same player headed home after the Barnet goalkeeper had turned a shot on to the crossbar.

Barnet staged a late rally, which saw Agogo convert a penalty after he had been brought down by Ricketts and the striker also saw a shot hit the outside of a post as Barnet went in search of an equaliser.

Once again poor defending let Barnet down, although the strikers must accept a share of the blame for not putting away their chances.

Bookings

Nuneaton Borough

No bookings

Barnet

47 - Lee Flynn booked for unsporting behaviour

Teams

Nuneaton Borough

MacKenzie, Thackeray, Love, Cooper, Walling, Lavery, Williams, Ricketts, Turner (Williams 59), Ducros, McGregor

Unused Subs: Hodgson, Peake, Lenton, Maiye

Barnet

Naisbitt, Yakabu, Flynn, Heald, Pluck, Doolan, Gower, Toms (Bell 70), Purser, Strevens, Agogo

Unused Subs: Harrison, Midgley, Oshitola, Niven