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Coca Cola League Two By Iain Dalziel Despite getting off to a flying start at Underhill, Barnet suffered their third defeat in four games at home to East Londoners, Leyton Orient. Going into the game Barnet were without a number of key players. Clist, Hatch, Yakubu and Gross were all ruled out with injury. Both sides went into the game on the back of some poor results. Orient had topped the table after three games, before Barnet took the first place off them in the fourth game. However, both sides have slipped down the table in recent weeks and were looking to make a mends and climb back into or around the play-off places. However, when the game began it looked as though it could be a comfortable afternoon for Barnet. From the kick off Bailey played the ball wide to Sinclair, who took it down the right hand side. Looking up he whipped a low cross into the box which Grazioli connected with and consequently put the ball past Garner and into the net to give Barnet a 1-0 lead, just fourteen seconds in. This was Grazioli’s first home goal of the season and it was later revealed that it was also the quickest ever goal scored by a Barnet player at Underhill. The quick fire goal obviously gave the home side a boost, though it didn’t deter Orient, who were willing to take the game to the Bees. Jabo Ibrehe, returning from a long-term injury looked a threat every time the O’s went forward in the opening stages, though not giving Bees ‘keeper Flitney anything more than a few comfortable saves. The way the game was going either team could’ve got the next goal, though clear-cut chances were few and far between. Louie Soares almost grabbed a goal on his home debut however, when he cut in from the right hand side and unleashed a shot from the edge of the area. However, it took a deflection and went out for a corner. Shortly after the Bees again almost grabbed a second goal, a low cross by Hendon, similar to the one from Sinclair that had provided the opening goal, was aimed at Grazioli. Yet the Bees number nine couldn’t get on the end of it. Had Grazioli met it, it appeared he would’ve had a carbon copy of his first goal. In spite of the Bees efforts to double their lead, the next goal came at the end. Jabo Ibrehe marking his return to action with a goal to give Orient a thirty ninth minute equaliser. A fantastic cross from Miller was headed goal ward by Gary Alexander, yet this went straight at Anthony Charles. But unluckily for the Bees defender it deflected off him and straight into the path of Ibrehe, who clinically stabbed the ball home from close range, 1-1. The O’s equaliser was the final piece of real action in the first half. At times there was much about Barnet’s performance to be encouraged by, but the late first half goal may have proved to be a key moment for Leyton Orient’s approach to the game. Second Half When Orient came out for the second half, they began to dominate play, having most of the possession. Barnet were doing themselves no favours however, allowing Orient far too much time on the ball. After a poor first ten minutes from Fairclough’s side the Bees made a switch, Soares coming off on fifty six minutes, being replaced by Lee Roache, meaning a formation change from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2. Yet this clearly did not have the desired effect, as Leyton Orient continued to be the dominant side. Barnet looked dangerous every now and then on the break, but the ball never made it’s way into the Orient penalty area, with the O’s defence playing very solidly. On seventy four minutes Leyton Orient’s pressure paid off. Flitney had been the hero for the Bees on a number of occasions already, but he couldn’t stop Alexander’s effort which put the O’s in front. Jabo Ibrehe turned Anthony Charles superbly, just inside the Barnet half and then played a superb through ball which Alexander latched onto. One on one with Flitney the O’s number nine made no mistake, slotting the ball to Flitney’s left and making it 2-1 to Orient. 2-1 down with sixteen minutes left, Barnet obviously had to respond, but seemed unable to find that creative spark which they showed earlier this season. With a minute to go of normal time and Barnet failing to really create any problems, Orient killed the game off, their third of the afternoon very similar to the way the second was scored. This time it was Miller with the pass forward but once again it was Gary Alexander who ran onto it, kept his composure, and although Ross Flitney got a hand to it, it still beat the former Fulham man in the Bees goal to seal the points for Orient and send their large travelling support into raptures. Following the third goal much of Underhill emptied and those who chose to leave early, missed one final goal. Grazioli managed to poke him his second of the afternoon in controversial fashion. Everyone, including Grazioli himself it appeared, thought he was offside, but the linesman’s flag stayed down and the goal gave a little more credibility to the score line, though it flattered Barnet. The final whistle went and understandably led to more celebrations from the O’s following, though for the Barnet fans still in the ground this defeat will leave worry in the minds of many. The second half display was dire. At the back Barnet looked un-organised, Charles getting exposed on several occasions and captain Ian Hendon also had a below par game. The formation cannot be blamed as the reason for the poor display, as at 1-1 it was changed to 4-4-2, seemingly the number one choice of the Barnet supporters and clearly it didn’t work either. On the whole, in the second half anyway, Barnet were poor, but Orient played very well and must take credit for the way they totally dominated. The game will give Fairclough much to think about, as the Bees have now dropped to 13th in the table, but it is still very early days and this reporter has no doubt that Fairclough can turn it around and get the team back on track. A tough trip to Wycombe awaits for Barnet next week, the Bees will certainly have to be at their best to get a result at the Causeway Stadium next Saturday. Iain Dalziel’s Barnet Man Of The Match: Ross Flitney, there were not many candidates for the man of the match award, but Flitney did have a good game in goal and could not really be blamed for any of the Orient goals. Damien Batt also worked hard and his tackling throughout the game was quite good too. Iain Dalziel’s Leyton Orient Man Of The Match: Gary Alexander, took his two goals well and generally caused the Bees defence a lot of hassle. Bookings Barnet King Leyton Orient Lockwood Ref: M Messias (S Yorkshire) Teams Barnet Flitney, Hendon, King, Batt, Charles, Sinclair, Lee, Soares (Roache 56), Graham, Bailey, Grazioli Subs Not Used: Tynan, Strevens, Bowditch, Norville Leyton Orient Garner, Lockwood, Mackie, Miller, McMahon, Carlisle, Easton, Simpson, Zakuani, Alexander, Ibehre (Echanomi 83) Subs Not Used: Barnard, Keith, Morris, Tudor Match Stats Possession: Shots: Corners: Fouls: Bookings: Other League Two Scores Boston Utd 3 - 2
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