8:26am Wednesday 3rd October 2007
By Paul Wreyford
Barnet 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1 . . .
"You know what you're getting with Liam Hatch."
So declared Barnet manager Paul Fairclough at the final whistle on Tuesday night, but he surely could not have predicted what he would get on this occasion.
Fairclough said he told his sub to "go out and upset the opposition physically".
Hatch, as always, did just that, earning his customary booking in the process.
But there was an added extra this time - a goal. No one can doubt Hatch's enthusiasm and work ethic, but finding the net has proved a problem in recent years.
Not on Tuesday night. His sublime effort turned this game on its head.
Fairclough described his 77th-minute equaliser as "magnificent".
He added: "We can imagine Alan Shearer scoring goals like that."
Wycombe boss Paul Lambert, who then had to watch Jason Puncheon grab the winner four minutes from time, said: "I don't know why he (Hatch) is sub. Every time I see him he does well."
The Chairboys were leading 1-0 at the interval and in full control, but Barnet once again saved their best for the second half.
Fairclough said: "This was a fantastic result for us against a very good team. We are beating some big sides at the moment and the belief is growing match by match.
"My players don't know when they are beaten. They were not even happy with the draw and wanted to go and get the win. We brought Wycombe to their knees and then finally executed them."
The arrival of Hatch was certainly an inspired substitution.
Fairclough said: "Liam's done what we expect. It's what substitutes should do. If he could finish like that more often, he would be a regular starter."
The Bees, like on Saturday, had struggled throughout the first half, their best effort coming from Adam Birchall who shot straight at the keeper after cutting inside.
The Chairboys, in contrast, were first to every ball and fully deserved their 22nd-minute opener, John Sutton outpacing Ismail Yakubu to reach a long clearance, before smacking the ball past the advancing Lee Harrison.
The Barnet keeper had earlier denied Sergio Torres with his legs and later saved a Sutton header, as the hosts looked relieved to hear the half-time whistle.
But it was all change after the break. The Bees looked a different side and did all the pressing, Wycombe content to sit back and protect their lead.
However, chances were at a premium, Josh Wright having the best effort, the young midfielder volleying over on the hour following a half-cleared corner.
But Hatch, who replaced Jason Norville up front, hauled Barnet back on level terms with his first goal of the campaign. And it was worth waiting for.
The super-sub flicked the ball out wide to Birchall, who played it back inside. Hatch chested the return down and volleyed the ball past the keeper without letting it bounce. It was a superb piece of skill and sent the home faithful wild, such is the striker's popularity at Underhill.
But, as Fairclough stated, Barnet were not content with a point. With just four minutes remaining, Birchall cleverly dummied a Sagi Burton ball forward, providing a gap for Puncheon.
The winger needed no invitation. He surged forward and forced keeper Frank Fielding to push out his shot. Fortunately, the ball rebounded kindly for Puncheon and he hooked it into an unguarded net for his sixth goal of the season.
Lambert, who watched his troops throw away a 1-0 lead against Barnet on the final day of the campaign last year, groaned: "It was the exact same game as last season."
Fairclough added: "It was the same as Saturday, a game of two halves. We are turning games round at critical moments. My players don't know the meaning of giving in."
BARNET (4-3-3): Harrison; Devera (O'Cearuill 72), Yakubu, Burton, Nicolau; Carew, Wright, Bishop; Birchall, Norville (Hatch 57), Puncheon. Subs not used: Beckwith, Porter, Thomas.
Attendance: 2,023.
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