Woeful Bees brushed aside by Macc

5:04pm Monday 24th March 2008

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FULL TIME: Macclesfield Town 3 Barnet 0 . . .

Barnet were on the end of a comprehensive beating just days after handing out one themselves.

The 5-2 win over Lincoln on Saturday seemed a long time ago, as struggling Macclesfield ran out comfortable winners at Moss Rose this afternoon.

The Bees never really got into their stride, putting in a disappointing performance against a side low on confidence.

This was an ill-tempered affair with little quality on offer, the visitors having an off day after two encouraging displays, and conceding defeat far too easily.

Very few Barnet players could hold their heads up high after this showing.

Barnet made just one change from the side that thrashed Lincoln on Saturday, with the fit-again Neal Bishop coming in for Max Porter.

The opening stages produced plenty of endeavour but little in the way of goalmouth action.

The first chance did not come until the 17th minute. A Jordan Parkes centre fell at the feet of Adam Birchall, but his shot on the turn was straight at keeper Jonathon Brain.

Jamie Tolley then drove straight at Lee Harrison at the other end, as the hosts finally registered an effort on goal.

A number of free-kicks did not help the flow of the game, while the bobbly pitch made passing difficult.

The final ball was poor from both sides. Macclesfield, deep in relegation trouble, looked nervous, fully aware of how important this game was for them.

But it was the hosts who struck on the half hour, and it was a soft goal as far as Barnet were concerned. Neil Ashton floated over a free-kick and Danny Thomas got in front of his marker to power a header past Harrison from six yards.

The goal came out of the blue, the Silkmen having done nothing to suggest they would be the side to break the deadlock.

The Bees looked for an immediate response, Albert Adomah seeing a speculative volley finish well wide, but it was the hosts who almost added a second, Harrison pushing out a Gareth Evans header five minutes before the interval.

However, it was 2-0 just a minute later, Ashton's free kick into the box eluding everyone and creeping in at the far post. It was another shocking goal to concede.

The home side had barely broken sweat, but they still found themselves two goals to the good as the half-time whistle went, the visitors made to pay for some sloppy defending at set-pieces.

It might even have been three, Ryan Cresswell seeing Harrison tip over a header, as the Silkmen ended the first period in full control and now brimming with confidence.

Barnet made a change for the start of the second half, Jason Puncheon coming on for Nicky Nicolau.

But, within three minutes, it was three, Francis Green moving into the box and beating Harrison at his near post with a fierce drive.

It was just the start the Bees did not want.

And it was almsot four on 58 minutes, Parkes clearing an Evans shot off the line after good work from Shaun Brisley.

The latter then saw a curling effort just clear the upright, though Harrison looked to have had it covered.

Tempers began to flare, with both Barnet's Kenny Gillet and Macclesfield's Terry Dunfield lucky to only receive yellow cards for two separate incidents.

On 65 minutes, Harrison dived to push away a hooked Tolley volley, the match now being played in blizzard conditions.

The weather and the match had turned ugly, with both sides losing their discipline.

The Bees were struggling to create anything, and becoming more frustrated as the game wore on.

Sub Ashley Carew was also fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a very late tackle on Ashton, while Macclesfield's Richard Walker was booked for an elbow on Bishop.

It was not pretty, but the Silkmen did not care and were happy to let the clock tick away, Barnet failing to create even one decent second-half chance, Birchall's stoppage-time shot being weak and straight at Brain.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Parkes, Devera, Burton, Gillet; Adomah (Carew 53), Bishop, Wright, Nicolau (Puncheon 45); Thomas, Birchall. Subs not used: Porter, Leary, St Aimie.

Attendance: 1,718.