Last-gasp Shrews sink Bees

9:06pm Saturday 17th November 2007

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Shrewsbury Town 1 Barnet 0 . . .

STUBBORN Barnet saw their hard work ruined by a goal in the fourth and final minute of injury time.

It was cruel on the battling Bees who thought they had done enough to earn a point in what was a poor game at New Meadow this afternoon.

The match looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate, but Michael Symes struck in what was the final attack.

Barnet did not make the most of several chances to clear their lines and the ball eventually broke kindly for Symes some 12 yards out in a central position. Though keeper Lee Harrison got a hand to the ball, the sub's low drive had enough power to find the net.

The Shrews have been struggling of late and were clearly lacking confidence. They struggled to create chances and looked devoid of ideas.

The Barnet defence were more than a match for the home forwards and a point, at the very least, looked to be there for the taking.

However, the Bees created little themselves at the other end. Their best chances came in the final five minutes of the first half. Adam Birchall had a drive blocked, while Liam Hatch saw a snapshot from the tightest of angles pushed out by the keeper, both opportunities having been created by foraging balls down the flank from the boot of ex-Shrew Sagi Burton.

The clearest opening fell to Birchall on the stroke of half-time. Hatch slipped his fellow striker in, but Birchall's left-foot effort took a slight deflection before clearing the bar by a few inches.

Stuart Nicholson had earlier seen Harrison hold a shot after a fine home move finally opened up the visiting defence.

The second half, like the first, was ruined by a whistle-happy referee who made some baffling decisions, causing both teams to become increasingly frustrated.

Nicholson again had the best chance for the hosts, but Harrison was once more out like a shot to turn over his 70th-minute effort, after the striker was put in the clear.

Shrewsbury finished the stronger, but their last-gasp winner came when everyone had given up hope of seeing a goal.

This was a niggly and disappointing encounter that will not live long in the memory.

However, for Barnet fans, the cruel late blow might not be so easy to forget.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Devera, Yakubu, Burton, Gillet; Porter (Nicolau 54), Leary (Hendon 90), Bishop, Puncheon; Birchall, Hatch. Subs not used: Beckwith, Grazioli, Hendon.

Attendance: 5,197.

* See Thursday's paper for full match report, analysis and pictures.