FULL-TIME: Barnet 1 Macclesfield Town 3 (From Times Series)

FULL-TIME: Barnet 1 Macclesfield Town 3

4:59pm Saturday 22nd November 2008 in

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Barnet saw a point disappear in the final few minutes at Underhill this afternoon.

The Bees looked to have salvaged a draw through a second-half John O'Flynn equaliser and were pressing for a winner, but Macclesfield stole it with two goals at the death.

The hosts, after a poor first half, dominated the second, but the Silkmen delivered two cruel late blows to leave a sparse Underhill crowd stunned.

Barnet manager Paul Fairclough chose a 4-4-2 formation, with Adam Birchall returning to partner John O'Flynn up front. There was also a return for Abu Ogogo, with Max Porter and Luke Medley dropping to the bench.

The first real opening came the home side's way, Albert Adomah setting up Birchall, but it was on his left foot and the striker never really got hold of his shot.

The Bees almost took the lead on ten minutes. O'Flynn was threaded through and he hit a shot from the edge of the box that beat the keeper, only to come back off the bar, with Adomah heading over from the rebound.

But Macclesfield also had a great chance a few minutes later, Martin Gritton scuffing his shot with just Lee Harrison to beat, the home defence split open.

Gritton did not need long to make amends. On 15 minutes, Barnet failed to clear and, when the ball was put back into the box, the Macclesfield striker, with his back to goal, superbly hooked the ball on the volley past Harrison for the opener.

It could have been two midway through the half, Simon Yeo seeing a volley flash just past the far post.

After a reasonably bright start, the Bees had lost their way, the goal having given the Silkmen the confidence to go on the hunt for another.

And they should have got it on 35 minutes, Gareth Evans fluffing his shot from two yards with the goal gaping, Harrison having only pushed an Izak Reid cross into his path. It was an incredible miss.

Adomah then fired over at the other end after a Nicky Deverdics cross over his head fell to the winger at the back post, though it was nowhere near as bad as Evans' miss moments earlier.

It was another disappointing first 45 minutes for Barnet, but at least, unlike the previous week, the Bees were still in the game when the half-time whistle sounded.

The hosts should have equalised on 52 minutes, O'Flynn meeting a Neal Bishop cross, but heading meekly at the keeper from a few yards. The striker should have buried it.

Barnet were now doing most of the pressing and were finally level on 58 minutes, O'Flynn bundling home a Medley cross from a couple of yards after Michael Leary had made a nuisance of himself at the near post.

Midway through the half, Bishop played a one-two with Deverdics and hooked the ball over the advancing keeper, only to see one of two defenders on the line hack it to safety.

The hosts now sensed a winner, Ismail Yakubu just failing to reach a Medley cross after a corner was only half cleared.

Though Barnet were now in control, the Silkmen still looked dangerous on the break, the home defence looking less than convincing.

With 15 minutes to go, Medley got on the end of an Adomah cross, but could not keep his header on target.

Medley, who had made a difference since coming on, then shot just wide after a good run down the left.

Bishop almost found a way through but keeper Jon Brain was out quickly to block, as the game entered the closing stages.

With five minutes to, Adomah nicked the ball off a dithering defender, but Brain parried his shot. It was a great save.

And, just a minute later, Ogogo's clearance fell straight to sub Francis Green and he buried the ball in the corner from 12 yards, the Silkmen striking with their only effort of the second half.

With one minute to go, Danny Thomas crossed for Nat Brown to loop a header over Harrison, thus sealing the points.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Ogogo, Yakubu, Townsend, Gillet; Adomah, Bishop, Leary, Deverdics (Nicolau 81); Birchall (Medley 56), O'Flynn. Subs not used: Kadoch, Porter, Charles.

Attendance: 1,579.