Nationwide Conference
20 December 2003

By James Hall

A goal three minutes from the end of each half was enough to give relegation threatened Farnborough their first away win of the season against an under strength Barnet side who were made to rue a string of missed first half chances.

Both sides started brightly in a pulsating first half at underhill. After Boro' wasted an early corner, Barnet's new signing, Scully had an early shot well saved by Mark Osborne.

Barnet then had a strong five-minute period of pressure following a free kick awarded for Gerard Lavins foul on Geoff Pitcher. Mark Williams saw his dangerous cross deflected over before Hatch headed an effort wide.

Farnborough gradually settled after a shaky start and created the games best chance when Shane Gore spilled a routine catch. Richard Hodgson picked up the loose ball and drove his shot well wide of goal from a tight angle.

Hatch then found himself clean through for the Bee's and after rounding Osborne, he saw his shot blocked on the line by the superb Carl Hutchings.

Farnborough then came back as the came ebbed and flowed like a seesaw. Ross Wetherstone the ex-Boston player headed a Town corner narrowly wide. Hodgson then made space on the edge of the Barnet area before cleverly sliding in Ali Chaaban, who shot over the bar from ten yards. Barrington Belgrave then brought the best from Gore with a low drive towards the bottom corner of the bee's goal.

Back then came Barnet. Hatch first shot wide from a low cross before the games turning point arrived. Following a Bees corner, Hatch once again saw his shot well saved by Osborne, who could only parry his shot to the feet of Scully. Scully drove the ball first time from five yards out only to see his shot repelled by a superb on-the-line block by Boro' defender Hutchings.

Scully and Pitcher both had further shots saved by Osborne before Town snatched the lead. Referee Mr Murphy adjudged Joe Gamble to have fouled Belgrave on the corner of the box. Hodgson took the free kick and his sumptuous cross was given the finish it deserved by Boro' captain Nick Burton who met the ball firmly to plant an unstoppable header back across the helpless Gore.

Second Half

Barnet then failed to take the game to the visitors in the second half as Town cleverly disrupted the flow of the game by thwarting their hosts.

Barnet's two main chances fell to Williams. The first came after good work by Hatch, who beat his man before slotting the ball to Williams. His first time shot requires a sharp reflex save from Osborne. Ismail Yakubu then found Williams in space again. His drive was deflected off of Hatch, but again Osborne was in the right place to frustrate the Bee's.

As the clock ticked down, Barnet became increasingly unlikely to breach resolute Boro' defence. Then came the moment of the second half. Ryan Semple collected the ball 25 yards out and struck a stunning shot that went in off of the underside of the Bees crossbar to give Boro' their first away win this season.

Man of the Match

Carl Hutchings; A superb performance from a seasoned pro.

Quotes from the manager

"We are disappointed with the result, but I am pleased that we kept going right until the end.

"We had a lot of young players in the team and they lost confidence after missing chances in the first half."

Match Photos

Twenty one photos of the game by Chris Holland.

Bookings

Barnet

C.Plummer, 22, unsporting behaviour
M.Williams, 27, dissent

Farnborough Town

R.Hodgson, 7, unsporting behaviour
C.Hutchings, 14, unsporting behaviour
M.Osborn, 27, dissent

Referee: Murphy, M

Teams

Barnet

S.Gore, Silk, C.Plummer, M.Rooney, Mcnamee (A.Campion 72), I.Yakabu, J.Gamble, Scully (S.Henry 83), G.Pitcher, L.Hatch, M.Williams (T.Taggart 63)

Unused substitutes: G.Lopez, R.Millard

Farnborough Town

M.Osborn, S.Opinel, N.Burton (M.Thompson 56), R.Weatherstone, A.Charles, R.Semple, A.Hayes, R.Hodgson, C.Hutchings (F.Manuella 89), A.Chaaban, B.Belgrave (H.Forinton 73)

Unused substitutes: M.Conetti, J.Sombili

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