Shrimps stung by Bees' quick start (From Times Series)

Shrimps stung by Bees' quick start

2:23pm Monday 23rd February 2004

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Morecambe 1
Barnet 3
Nationwide Conference

Missing four key players and up against the team with the best home record in the Conference, Barnet manager Martin Allen was not overstating the case when he described Saturday's game at Morecambe as one hell of a task', writes Peter Stebbings. Thankfully, his team were more than up for it producing one of their best away performances of the season so far.

"I have every confidence in my squad and we worked hard this week. We changed our system to come to Morecambe and the players equipped themselves very well. With four senior players suspended, the lads that came in did exceptionally well," said Allen.

The Bees have made a habit of starting games quickly, and this one was effectively decided in a stunning opening 12 minutes.

With three minutes gone, Simon King crossed from the left and Joe Gamble finished from six yards with a neat sidefooted finish.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0. Ben Strevens picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and, from 20 yards, curled the ball past a static Craig Mawson in the home goal.

Stung into life, the shell-shocked Shrimpers forced Barnet onto the back foot. Without regular pairing Chris Plummer and Danny Maddix, Barnet were forced into deploying Ismail Yakubu and Ian Hendon at the heart of the defence a partnership that greatly surpassed all expectations.

Despite incessant pressure and neat approach work, it took Morecambe until the half-hour mark to register their first shot when the dangerous Dean Howell flashed a drive past keeper Ademola Bankole's post.

On 37 minutes, the Bees with just their third shot on goal made it 3-0. A cross from the right was headed against the bar, and new signing Simon Clist reacted quickest to nod the ball home from close range.

The second half saw more Morecambe pressure. Bankole rushed off his line to deny substitute Ryan Sugden on the hour, and then saved acrobatically from a close-range header. Bankole, whose kicking had been of concern all afternoon, was involved again in the 74th minute when he cleared unconvincingly. This time he was punished emphatically by Shrimps' top-scorer Danny Carlton.

With thoughts of a late comeback undoubtedly in mind, Morecambe lay siege to the Barnet goal for the last quarter of an hour. They abandoned their passing game and instead resorted to punting long balls into the Barnet box.

But, as had been the story for most the afternoon, the immaculate Yakubu and Hendon held firm.

BARNET (4-4-2): Bankole; Rooney, Yakubu, Hendon, King; Williams, Lopez, Gamble, Clist; Grazioli (Taggart 87), Strevens. Subs not used: Gore, J Smith, Cumberbatch, Henry. Attendance: 2,014. Man of the match: Yakubu.

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