FULL-TIME: Accrington Stanley 1 Barnet 1 (From Times Series)

FULL-TIME: Accrington Stanley 1 Barnet 1

5:05pm Saturday 24th January 2009

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Veteran striker Paul Furlong struck early to earn ten-man Barnet a point at the Crown Ground this afternoon.

The 40-year-old got the Bees off to a fantastic start, but they spent most of the game hanging on when skipper Kenny Gillet received a straight red card after just a quarter of an hour.

Barnet defended bravely, but could only hold out until the 55th minute when the hosts grabbed their deserved equaliser.

Stanley, like the Bees, have had a disappointing season and cannot consider themselves safe, even with Luton Town and Bournemouth still so many points adrift in the two relegation places.

With both sides still looking over their shoulders, this was a match neither could really afford to lose.

In the end, the visitors would have been pleased to have at least come away with a point.

Barnet caretaker boss Ian Hendon was forced to make three changes.

Without Michael Townsend, the suspended Michael Leary and the injured Ismail Yakubu, Hendon was forced to rearrange his back four.

Max Porter came in at right-back, while Gary Breen, himself returning from injury, slotted into the centre. There was also a surprise recall for Joe Tabiri in midfield.

Barnet went into the game knowing that a win would draw them level on points with their hosts, and the visitors got off to a dream start, taking the lead after just six minutes, Albert Adomah crossing for Furlong to head home from close range. It was his first goal since arriving on loan from Southend United.

But Barnet's joy was short lived. Less than ten minutes later, they were reduced to ten men, Gillet guilty of a rash challenge on Accrington's Chris Turner.

Gillet, who has just been named skipper by Hendon, was immediately shown a red card.

Hendon was forced to bring on left-back Nicky Nicolau to fill in for the Frenchman, Tommy Black the unfortunate player to be sacrificed.

Though Stanley, with an extra man, went on to create the better chances, they could not find a way past the makeshift visiting defence, the Bees going in at the break still one to the good.

However, the home equaliser did not take long in coming after the interval.

Within ten minutes, Turner crossed from the byline and Paul Mullin was on hand to turn the ball into the net from close range.

It had been coming and was no surprise.

The Accrington fans sensed a winner, but Barnet, who had chances themselves on the break, held firm to claim a share of the spoils.

BARNET (4-4-2): Kadoch; Porter, Devera, Breen, Gillet; Adomah, Tabiri, Bishop, Black (Nicolau 18); Furlong, O'Flynn (Bolasie 88). Subs not used: Harrison, Birchall, Deverdics.

Attendance: 1,056.

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