On-loan Pitcher throws Bees a lifeline

4:13pm Wednesday 14th January 2004

Barnet 3
Dover Athletic 2
FA Trophy third round

A second-half double from on-loan midfielder Geoff Pitcher helped Barnet move a step closer to Villa Park after a disappointing first half at Underhill on Saturday.

Pitcher put Barnet two goals up just before the hour to complete a six-minute brace that included a beautiful 20-yard strike on 51 minutes.

Barnet boss Martin Allen brought the team out early for the second half such was his frustration with his team's performance.

"We never actually started the game," admitted Allen afterwards. "Our team were out on the pitch but they did not play to the standards we have set ourselves."

Barnet striker Giuliano Grazioli missed the game with an ankle injury.

Despite the absence of the Conference top scorer, the Bees almost took the lead with ten minutes on the clock. Stand-in skipper Ben Strevens hit a 20-yard free kick off the inside of the post, having beaten Dover goalkeeper Paul Hyde.

Dover's Jamie Day saw a shot deflected just wide of Ricky Millard's left-hand post soon after. The rest of the half was played out without any clear-cut chances and it was left to Allen to change things at the break.

A double substitution and change of formation saw Barnet much more in control throughout the second half and it was not long before the deadlock was broken.

Simon King played the ball down the line to Strevens who made a good run down the left before his cross was cleared to Pitcher, who struck sweetly from the edge of the box.

Barnet scored again on 57 minutes when Anthony McNamee dribbled his way to the by-line before crossing in for Pitcher to get his second of the game with a diving header.

Guy Lopez replaced Pitcher soon after and could have made it three when he hit the ball over from ten yards after some good work by Joe Gamble down the right. Dover got a goal back when Day scored a penalty after Lopez had brought down Matt Carruthers.

Barnet scored again through Lee Roache three minutes from time before Dover's consolation goal in injury time.

Allen said: "We were very poor in the first half. But thankfully our players improved in the second."

Barnet's reward for beating Dover is a fourth round trip to fellow Conference side Forest Green Rovers on January 31.