FULL-TIME: Barnet 0 Notts C 4 (From Times Series)

FULL-TIME: Barnet 0 Notts C 4

4:54pm Saturday 15th November 2008 in Sport

A nightmare first half left Barnet reeling at Underhill this afternoon.

The Bees caved in at the back and found themselves 4-0 down at the interval.

The County attackers were given time and space, and looked capable of scoring at will.

Though the hosts did steady themselves in the second half, there was never any hope of a dramatic comeback.

The final score was perhaps a little harsh on the Bees, who had most of the possession, but their defending was at times shocking, and they could not really have any complaints.

Barnet manager Paul Fairclough chose to revert back to a 4-4-2 formation, with Adam Birchall joining John O'Flynn up front. Michael Leary was the midfield player sacrificed.

There was also a debut for Arsenal loan defender Abu Ogogo who replaced the injured Joe Devera at right-back.

Otherwise the Bees were unchanged.

Barnet started well enough. Birchall almost set up an opening in the first couple of minutes, rounding keeper Russell Hoult and crossing into a crowded box from a tight angle, but O'Flynn could not beat the County defenders to the ball. Ogogo also hit a first-time effort just wide, his first touch for the club an impressive one.

But County struck with their first chance on seven minutes, Richard Butcher volleying into the far corner from the edge of the box after a neat flick-on. It was a crisp move and little keeper Lee Harrison or the home defence could do about it.

And it got worse for the Bees on 15 minutes, a cross bouncing off the shins of Ogogo into the path of Jonathan Forte, who gleefully drove past Harrison from a central position eight yards out.

Barnet were not actually playing that badly, and Birchall just failed to get on the end of an Albert Adomah cross to the near post, while Neal Bishop saw a shot clear the bar midway through the half.

Bishop then saw another shot blocked after a Nicky Nicolau free-kick was not cleared.

But County still continued to look dangerous on the break, Harrison coming to the rescue with a good block after Myles Weston had been picked out at the far post in acres of space.

And it was three on 32 minutes, Ismail Yakubu making a mess of a ball on the edge of the area, allowing Forte to nip in and beat Harrison.

While everything was going right for the Magpies, the Bees were getting no luck, Birchall seeing a near-post header flash across the face of the goal and then a shot on the turn saved by Hoult.

But Forte completed his hat-trick in the final minute, beating Harrison to the ball in a one-on-one, and even having time to look at the linesman before slotting into the exposed net.

The half-time whistle was greeted by boos. Going forward the Bees had actually played quite well, but it was another shambolic 45 minutes at the back.

The second half started quietly, though Barnet, to their credit, did at least look like they were trying to make a game of it.

On 63 minutes, Adomah fired just past the upright after a fine run, while Kenny Gillet forced Hoult to get down low to save just a few minutes later.

The Bees continued to enjoy most of the play, Adomah turning his man brilliantly, before testing Hoult with another low drive.

Not surprisingly, the second half was a little flat, but the home side kept plugging away and at least restored some pride.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Ogogo, Yakubu, Townsend, Gillet; Adomah, Porter (Deverdics 45), Bishop, Nicolau (Burge 60); Birchall (Medley 73), O'Flynn. Subs not used: Beckwith, Leary.

Attendance: 1,934.