Nationwide Conference
04 October 2003

By Iain Dalziel

THE FIRST Saturday of October saw the third placed bees take on Morecambe, with a chance of make it five wins in five games.

Like Barnet, Morecambe were on a good run going into the game. Last seasons play-off semi-finalists currently lying in fifth, despite a bad start to the season seem to be getting back to their best, following a string of impressive results.

Barnet suffered a big blow before the game had even started, when it was announced that Britain’s top scorer Giuliano Grazioli was absent with flu.

However in a similair fashion to the Aldershot game the visitors were blown away in the early stages. Inside the first minute Beadle headed the ball on for Strevens to chase down, but it seemed as though Morecambe had it under control. Yet, to everyone’s surprise a horrible misunderstanding between Morecambe ‘keeper Mawson and his defender led to one of the easiest goals Strevens will ever score.

With the ball bouncing between the Morecambe players the bees long serving attacker ran on to put the ball into an empty net. This bizarre moment sent Underhill into wild celebrations and even a state of shock, after scoring a goal of such sort against a generally defensively sound team. Strevens nearly then doubled his and the bees tally in the fifth minute. The on form attacker hit it just wide of the post from the edge of the eighteen yard box.

The bees good start continued, some excellent cross-field balls were being played and it was from a cross that Barnet went 2-0 up. Following some good pressure on the Morecambe area barnet won a corner. What then followed must have been something worked on at the training ground.

Joe Gamble’s corner was met at the front post by captain Ian Hendon who unleashed a ferocious volley into the Morecambe goal. The bees were now 2-0 ahead with only a quarter of the game gone, and were looking unstoppable.

The pressure continued, Lopez hitting well over with an audacious effort from quite a considerable range. Yet, there was to be no more bees goals before the break, but nearly a Morecambe one. A mad scramble in the Barnet penalty area lead to Danny Clayton having his attempt cleared off the line by goal scorer Hendon.

This was right on the stroke off half time, Hendon’s heroics denying the Lancashire side a valuable physiological boost, meaning they went off at half time 2-0 down.

Second Half

The second half started with few chances being created, and the first bit of action came on the hour for all the wrong reasons. A bad challenge by already booked Wayne Curtis led to the Morecambe number nine seeing red. Curtis has to be one of the most unlucky players ever to play the bees, as in past meetings he has gone off injured and has had a goal disallowed.

However, the sending-off made Morecambe more determined and now it was Barnet under pressure.

Following several decent moves Morecambe’s pressure paid off when Gary Thompson made it 2-1. Thompson was put through by an excellent pass and then calmly lifted the ball over the advancing David Forde.

The goal however provoked a positive response by the bees, Sylla and Taggart were both introduced and each looked very effective. The bees could have made a considerable number of chances had the linesman not made so many controversial offside decisions, particularly against Beadle. When they did get through they were very unlucky.

Some good work by Norman Sylla gave Joe Gamble a chance to make it three. However, the Republic of Ireland under-21 international volleyed against the post, meaning he is still hunting for his first Barnet goal.

Following Gamble’s effort Sylla had a chance to grab his first bees goal, but somehow cleared the fence behind the north terrace from all of fifteen yards. The look on his faced suggested what everyone was thinking, he should have done better.

After Barnet’s short spell of domination Morecambe came back again, but not to the extent of earlier in the second half. However time was on the side when the fourth official held up five minutes of stoppage time.

This made it three games in a row that this amount of stoppage time has been played in a Barnet game. Yet the bees held out for their fifth win on the trot, other results mean they stay third, but only on goal difference to second placed Chester City. Also now four points clear of fourth placed Aldershot, meaning regardless of Barnet’s next result they can’t fall any lower than where they are now.

Martin Allen afterwards said he wasn’t happy with his side’s display, but a sign of a good side is one that can have an off day and still win. Also the bees proved they’re not a one man team by winning without Grazioli.

Next up is Sean Devine’s Underhill return with Exeter on Tuesday, where Barnet could potentially go top and make it six wins in a row.

Match Photos

Over twenty photos of the game.

Bookings

Barnet

J.Gamble, 62, unsporting behaviour
P.Beadle, 69, dissent
M.Williams, 75, dissent

Morecambe

G.Thompson, 38, unsporting behaviour
W.Curtis, 45, unsporting behaviour
W.Curtis, 54, foul/abusive language (sent off)

Teams

Barnet

D.Forde, S.King (T.Taggart 73), C.Plummer, D.Maddix, I.Hendon, I.Yakabu, J.Gamble, G.Lopez, B.Strevens, M.Williams (N.Sylla 82), P.Beadle

Unused substitutes: L.Baimass, L.Hogg, R.Millard

Morecambe

C.Mawson, C.Lane, W.Curtis, J.Murphy, J.Bentley, D.McKearney, S.Drummond (D.Howell 22, N.Rogan 84), D.Perkins, Thompson, D.Carlton (R.Sugden 68), A.Rigoglioso

Unused substitutes: K.Walmsley, I.Swan

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