Imps see off spirited Barnet

9:43pm Saturday 17th March 2007

Lincoln City 1 Barnet 0 . . .

Barnet were made to pay for not putting away one of many second-half chances at Sincil Bank this afternoon.

The Bees dominated after the hosts struck what turned out to be the winner five minutes into the second period.

But they could not make their pressure count, striker Adam Birchall coming the closest, his stoppage-time effort going inches wide.

Manager Paul Fairclough said: "We did not do a lot wrong today. Over 90 minutes, we deserved something from the game. We played some good football, but didn't take our chances."

This was really a game of two halves, with the Imps on top for most of the first half, but then sitting back once they had got their noses in front.

The hosts, desperate to get their promotion bid back on track following a lean spell, carved out the best two openings of the first period.

Andy Hessenthaler was forced to scramble an Adie Moses header off the line on 19 minutes, while Ross Flitney's outstretched boot did enough to divert a goalbound Junior Mendes shot, after the debutant had used his strength to shrug off Simon King.

Barnet started the second half much more purposefully and, within two minutes, Barry Cogan squared for Ismail Yakubu, but the defender, up for a corner, saw his shot deflected just wide.

Minutes later, Lincoln were ahead, when Lee Frecklington was allowed to burst into the box unchallenged and fire across Flitney into the far corner.

The Bees were almost back on terms just before the hour, Oliver Allen's brilliant first-time 20-yard lob being tipped over by back-peddling keeper Alan Marriott.

Dean Sinclair should have done better with another opening, before Jason Puncheon drilled over after an Allen cross reached him at the back post unmarked.

Puncheon was involved in much, but his long-range efforts too often found the keeper's midriff.

Lincoln should have sealed the points two minutes from time, but Spencer Weir-Daley put a free header over with just Flitney to beat.

Sub Nicky Bailey slipped Birchall in for the final chance, but the striker's clipped effort past the advancing Marriott finished agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

BARNET (4-4-2): Flitney; Devera, Yakubu, King, Gross (Graham 85); Cogan (Bailey 72), Hessenthaler, Sinclair, Puncheon; Allen (Hatch 77), Birchall. Subs not used: Harrison, Hendon.

Attendance: 4,339.