Wycombe Wanderers 1 Barnet 1 (From Times Series)

Wycombe Wanderers 1 Barnet 1

9:46pm Tuesday 31st March 2009

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Barnet put in an excellent performance to edge closer to League Two survival.

Paul Furlong struck just before the break to cancel out a John Akinde effort, earning the Bees a much deserved point.

In a game of few chances, the visitors defended brilliantly, but were not afraid to go forward themselves, particularly in a first half that they dominated.

Though they ran out of steam after the interval, they allowed the hosts very little in terms of clear chances.

The point means the Bees are now seven points clear of the drop zone.

Barnet manager Ian Hendon named the same side that went down to Darlington on Saturday, sticking with the same players that have performed so well of late.

The Bees had the first shot, John O'Flynn chesting down a Gary Breen centre and firing the ball towards goal after a neat turn, though it never really troubled keeper Jamie Young.

It was a decent start by the visitors, and they enjoyed plenty of possession, but it was Wycombe who struck with their first chance on 19 minutes.

With the Barnet defence holding off, John Akinde was given time and space to drill a low shot into the corner from the edge of the box.

The Bees responded well and Breen was denied at the back post on the half-hour after a Matt Lockwood corner, Young blocking his effort.

Just two minutes later, Young was lucky not to get sent off. He came racing out of his goal and only cleared as far as Paul Furlong. As the striker rounded him, he was blatantly tripped. Presumably because there were covering defenders in the box, the referee decided to only show the keeper a yellow card. Sadly for the visitors, the free-kick came to nothing.

But the deserved equaliser came three minutes before the interval, Furlong playing a one-two with O'Flynn and drilling under Young from a central position 12 yards out. It was a fine finish from the veteran who used his strength to make sure he got to the return ahead of Wycombe defender Frank Sinclair.

The hosts almost restored their lead immediately, Jake Cole having to push out a low drive from Akinde, but that would have been tough on Barnet, who had bossed most of the first half.

Wycombe moved up a gear after the interval and Gary Holt forced Cole into a flying save on the hour.

At the other end, there were calls for a penalty when Albert Adomah looked to have been tripped, but nothing was given.

The Chairboys were now looking more of a threat and enjoying more of the play, though the Bees continued to look dangerous on the break.

However, both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances after the interval.

With a minute of normal time to go, Cole did well to repel a fierce Matt Harold shot, but that was all the hosts could offer.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; Devera, Yakubu, Breen, Lockwood; Adomah (Gillet 85), Bishop, Deverdics, Bolasie; Furlong, O'Flynn. Subs not used: Kadoch, Tabiri, Porter, Birchall.

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