Charlton just too strong for Bees (From Times Series)

Charlton just too strong for Bees

11:38am Wednesday 7th October 2009 in Sport

Barnet could not have had a tougher draw in the second round of the JP Trophy and it indeed proved a step too far for them on Tuesday night.

Charlton Athletic, sitting second in League One, are the highest-ranked club left in the southern section of the competition - and it showed.

Even if the final score was a little harsh on the Bees, the Addicks had just too much firepower and ran out worthy winners.

Barnet knew they had to be at their best to get something from this game, and they were not.

They made their hosts work for the win, but once ex-Bee Nicky Bailey had fired in the goal of the night 15 minutes from time, it was all over.

Bailey looks too good even for League One. Though this was not his greatest game, he still came up with a bullet free-kick that wrapped up the victory.

Up until then, the game was evenly balanced, the hosts holding on to the 2-1 advantage they had taken into the break. However, Bailey's thunderbolt knocked the stuffing out of Barnet and Simon Wagstaff rounded things off with a fourth late on, exploiting large gaps at the back to fire in off the bar.

And it had all started so promisingly for the Bees. Just 11 minutes had gone when John O'Flynn, teed up by Mark Hughes, fired low into the bottom corner from eight yards.

But Charlton's response was almost instant, Izale McLeod finding the net via a deflection just five minutes later.

The hosts, playing in the Football League Trophy for the first time in their history, took the lead five minutes before the interval, Tamer Tuna finding the corner with a well-placed shot.

Barnet enjoyed plenty of possession throughout the contest, but never really created enough chances.

In contrast, Charlton were incisive going forward, and the visiting defence at times struggled to contain them.

Losing to a side that graced the Premier League a few years ago is no disgrace, but this was a harsh lesson on what the Bees might expect in League One should they gain promotion this season.

Not that the Addicks, judging this performance, are likely to be in that division for too long.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; Devera, Yakubu, Leach, Gillet; Bolasie (Hart 76), Hughes (Tabiri 57), M Hyde, Jarrett; J Hyde, O'Flynn (Charles 67). Subs not used: Deen, Kamdjo.

Attendance: 4,522.