Five-star Bees see off Imps

4:56pm Saturday 22nd March 2008

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FULL TIME: Barnet 5 Lincoln City 2 . . .

Another dazzling Barnet display swept aside Lincoln at Underhill this afternoon.

For the second week running, the Bees went in at the break with the points virtually wrapped up.

On this occasion, they were 3-0 up at the interval, all three strikes coming in the final 15 minutes or so of what had up until then been a rather average opening half-hour.

Goals from Adam Birchall, Albert Adomah and Anthony Thomas left the visitors stunned.

Further second-half efforts from Birchall and Max Porter, his first for the club, completed the rout.

Lincoln restored some pride in the closing stages, but nothing could detract from another excellent performance from the Bees.

Barnet made three changes from the side that beat Chester last Saturday, Sagi Burton, Porter and Birchall all coming in for Ismail Yakubu, Neal Bishop and Cliff Akurang respectively.

Jason Puncheon, available again after his three-match suspension, had to settle for a place on the bench.

Lincoln, with the strong wind behind them, started brightly, but the first chance came for the hosts, Adomah attacking the ball on the edge of the box and firing just over.

Thomas had a go from long range, though it only required a routine save from Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott.

The Bees were getting to grips with the poor conditions better, and Adomah again forced Marriott to get down to take another crack from distance.

For the Imps, Mark Stallard saw a lob just clear Lee Harrison's bar.

The wind was making it difficult for both sides, making for a scrappy contest.

The players were often forced to shoot from long-range, Josh Wright next to try his luck, but he was off target.

Midway through the half, the Bees produced the first genuine chance. Nicky Nicolau curled in an inviting cross, which Birchall met first time in a central position, only to see his effort loop just over the bar.

Porter then hit a dipping effort from the edge of the area, but it was straight into the arms of Marriott.

The goal finally came on 28 minutes. Nicolau slipped Birchall free down the left and he coolly tucked the ball under Marriott and into the corner of the net.

It was a confident finish from a striker who had being going through a barren spell.

The Bees were now well on top and playing some good football, despite the awful conditions.

And, eight minutes before half-time, Adomah was tripped as he surged into the box. The winger got up to slam home the resulting penalty in some style to double Barnet's advantage.

Thomas then sped down the right and drove across the face of the goal, even though Nicolau was crying out for the ball in a much better position.

The hosts were growing in confidence and Thomas saw a pull-back cleared by a defender as Birchall looked set to pounce. Thomas had another chance but shot wildly over after good work from Birchall.

But, a minute from the break, a deep Birchall cross was retrieved by Thomas and he drilled under Marriott for the third.

It was a sensational 15-minute spell and the Imps were relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

However, within 40 seconds of the restart, Nicolau crossed to the near post and Birchall nipped in to flick the ball into the far corner for number four.

It was just the start Lincoln did not want.

The visitors tried to rally and Harrison had to push away a Shane Clarke dipping effort, before Stallard failed to get his head to an inviting cross with the goal at his mercy.

It was five on the hour, Porter firing low into the corner for his first goal for the club.

The only worry now was an abandonment, a snow blizzard prompting the need for a yellow ball.

The second half, because of the conditions and scoreline, was turning into something of a farce, but still the hosts went forward in search of further goals.

On 73 minutes, Harrison tipped over a Scott Kerr free kick, as Lincoln looked to restore some pride.

The blizzard finally relented and the Imps at last got their goal, Jamie Forester squaring for Ben Wright to turn the ball home with 14 minutes to go.

The same pair combined a few minutes later, Wright this time firing under Harrison for Lincoln's second.

Barnet had taken their foot off the gas and the visitors sensed they could at least bring some respectability back to proceedings.

Wright could have had a hat-trick, but he headed an 85th-minute cross into the ground and the ball ended in Harrison's arms.

In the final minute of normal time, sub Puncheon stung the hands of Marriott with a drive.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Parkes, Devera, Burton, Gillet (Puncheon 72); Adomah (Carew 86), Porter, Wright, Nicolau; Thomas, Birchall. Subs not used: Hendon, Leary, St Aimie.

Attendance: 2,115.