FULL-TIME: Barnet 1 Morecambe 1 (From Times Series)

FULL-TIME: Barnet 1 Morecambe 1

4:55pm Saturday 13th September 2008 in

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A quality Albert Adomah strike earned Barnet their first point of the season.

The winger struck in the first half, only for Morecambe to equalise just before the interval.

The Bees put in a much better performance, but it was not enough to earn the win their fans craved.

However, the players were applauded off at the final whistle, the fans happy in the knowledge that their side had done as much as they could. Once again, good luck seemed to elude them.

Barnet made two changes from the side that lost to Lincoln City, with Lee Harrison replacing the injured Ran Kadoch in goal, and Nicky Nicolau, who re-signed for the Bees this week, coming in at left wing, Max Porter dropping to the bench.

The hosts almost got off to a dream start, Adam Birchall connecting to a Nicolau cross at the near post, only to see keeper Barry Roche turn round his effort.

At the other end, Morecambe's Diarmuid O'Carroll placed a header wide, as both sides looked to seize the initiative.

Nicolau had a busy start, his shot from the edge of the box running through to Roche after a deflection had taken the pace off the ball.

For the Shrimps, Ryan McCann failed to keep the ball down when the Bees failed to clear a free-kick, his shot clearing the bar by some distance.

Morecambe's Garry Hunter then dragged a shot wide on 13 minutes, as both sides continued to give as good as they got.

But it was Barnet who struck on 18 minutes. Birchall played the ball out to the right and Albert Adomah took it in his stride, took on a defender, before rifling the ball into the roof of the net from just inside the box. It was a typical Adomah run and brilliant finish, prompting delighted manager Paul Fairclough to turn to the main stand with clenched fists. It was just what the Bees needed.

The home side thought they had doubled their lead on the half-hour mark, Cliff Akurang turning in a low Nicolau centre, but the flag was up.

Neal Bishop forced Roche to palm out a fierce drive from a free-kick, before Ismail Yakubu saw a header from the resulting corner headed off the line by a defender.

Barnet were ending the first half stronger, the goal having given them something to build on.

But, with just three minutes to go, O'Carroll received the ball on his chest with his back to goal in a central position. Without letting the ball touch the ground, he held off Yakubu, who allowed him far too much space, and turned to volley past Harrison for the equaliser. This time Fairclough clenched his fist in despair, his frustration with his defenders clearly visible.

Barnet had the first shot of the second half, Paul Mitchell driving wide after a corner fell to him 20 yards out.

The match was evenly balanced, with both sides looking capable of scoring the next goal.

The ball broke kindly for Wayne Curtis on the hour, but the Morecambe striker hit a weak shot at Harrison, while sub Michael Leary fired just wide for the Bees at the other end.

Birchall then just failed to latch on to a Yakubu header, the ball running across the six-yard box and away from the forward.

Midway through the half, Ashley Carew tried his luck from distance, his left-foot drive just curling away from the far post.

The Bees were the more desperate to claim the three points in the closing stages, the Underhill crowd trying to raise the home players for one final fling.

But chances were at a premium and the Shrimps still looked dangerous going forward themselves.

With five minutes to go, Bishop saw a low drive deflected just wide, and then the same player failed to keep a volley down from the resulting corner.

Kenny Gillet almost won it a minute from the end, his shot from the edge of the area flashing a foot wide.

Sub Luke Medley then rounded the keeper but, forced wide, the striker could not get any power on his shot and it was easily cleared off the line by David Artell.

Gillet had another chance 16 yards out, volleying just wide, as the Bees tried in vain to find a winner.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Carew, Yakubu, Devera, Gillet; Adomah, Mitchell (Leary 58), Bishop, Nicolau; Birchall, Akurang (Medley 58). Subs not used: Beckwith, Porter, Charles.

Attendance: 1,776.