Puncheon hat-trick sees off Daggers

3:01pm Wednesday 26th December 2007

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Barnet 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 1 . . .

Jason Puncheon hit a superb hat-trick to earn ten-man Barnet a crucial win in the big London derby at Underhill this afternoon.

Not even the first-half dismissal of captain Ismail Yakubu could stop the Bees, who, if anything, actually got better after the break.

The Daggers offered little and could have few complaints.

With Joe O'Cearuill supsended and Sagi Burton injured, Barnet manager Paul Fairclough brought midfielder Max Porter into the defence, while there was a start for Nicky Nicolau in midfield at the expense of Ashley Carew.

Meanwhile, ex-Bee Ben Strevens had to settle for a place on the Dagenham bench.

Barnet's first chance came on seven minutes, when Adam Birchall laid the ball into the path of Michael Leary but he shot just wide from ten yards.

Nicolau then put Liam Hatch through, but the striker scuffed his shot.

Shane Huke saw a shot deflected wide at the other end as the Daggers tried to get into the game.

The best chance of the opening quarter of the game fell to Jason Puncheon, but Dagenham keeper Tony Roberts beat out his 17th-minute drive. Roberts then got down to hold another Puncheon shot just minutes later.

The Bees were looking the better side, but a long-range Leary shot only required a routine save from Roberts on 24 minutes.

At the other end, a Sam Saunders cross was met by Paul Benson at the far post, but he was stetching and could not keep his header down.

Barnet should have broken the deadlock on 36 minutes. Nicolau broke and the ball fell kindly for Hatch but he drove low and wide, the referee awarding a corner even though Roberts did not appear to touch it.

Ismail Yakubu was then lucky to stay on the pitch, his challenge on Jon Boardman only receiving a yellow card, much to the anger of the visiting fans.

The goal finally came five minutes before the interval. Puncheon was brought down close to the touchline by Marlon Patterson and the Barnet winger got up to send Roberts the wrong way from the spot.

Benson saw another header at the other end go well over, before the same player got up again at the near post, his header from a corner this time crashing off the bar. Huke volleyed the rebound wide. It was a lucky escape for the Bees.

But Barnet ended the half on a sour note, Yakubu sliding in on Jon Nurse, prompting the referee to show a second yellow card, reducing the hosts to ten men.

The Bees were forced to reshuffle after the break, with Kenny Gillet moving into the centre of defence and Nicolau taking his place at left-back.

But it was ten-man Barnet who started the better and soon extended their lead. Adam Birchall chipped the ball into the path of Puncheon on 50 minutes and he controlled, steadied himself, before shooting home from 12 yards.

The home side were continuing to ask the questions, with Puncheon now starting to enjoy himself.

Roberts had to stretch to hold a 25-yard free-kick from the winger, as Barnet continued to attack.

The Daggers had to wait until the 70th minute for their first chance of the half, Boardman rising at the near post to head a Sam Sloma corner across the face of the goal, but there was no one on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Dagenham sub Strevens earned the wrath of the home fans with a challenge on Hatch, but he only received a yellow card.

Puncheon then sealed his hat-trick with the goal of the game, a cracking shot from the angle of the box on 78 minutes, the ball finishing in the top corner.

Despite playing with an extra man, the visitors struggled to create chances and their heads visibly dropped.

Roberts denied Puncheon a fourth on 85 minutes, blocking his drive.

The Daggers finally hit a consolation with two minutes to go, Huke beating Lee Harrison with a low shot from eight yards, but it was too little too late.

And Barnet should have had a fourth, sub Giuliano Grazioli hitting the post in the dying minutes.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Porter, Devera, Yakubu, Gillet; Puncheon, Leary (Carew 79), Bishop, Nicolau; Birchall, Hatch (Grazioli 85). Subs not used: Beckwith, Tabiri, Thomas.

Attendance: 2,513.