9:24am Monday 9th November 2009
You have to feel a little sorry for Darlington.
This was their second visit to Underhill in two weeks, and again it proved to be a fruitless one.
After being slayed 3-0 in the league, it was a similar story in the FA Cup first round on Saturday, though the Quakers did at least grab a goal on this occasion.
However, in both matches, League Two's bottom club will have felt a little hard done by. They have certainly not been the worst team to come to Underhill this season and the final score again perhaps flattered Barnet.
Manager Ian Hendon admitted it was not his side's best performance.
"It was about getting through to the next round and that's what we've done. That was a big win for us," he said.
And with a trip to Accrington Stanley in the second round waiting on the horizon, the Bees will feel they have every chance of gaining a coveted place in round three.
Barnet should have been cruising at 2-0 and later 3-0, but, strangely, they looked a little nervous at times in the second period.
Hendon explained: "I think we got a bit edgy in the second half, even at 3-0, but it was a cup tie, and that's what the cup does to you. It's different to the league."
Having said that, this was still a comfortable victory and Darlington never really looked like staging a dramatic comeback, despite creating plenty of chances after half-time.
The first half was very short on quality and both sides registered just one effort. Matty Plummer planted a near-post header wide for the visitors, while John O'Flynn played a neat one-two with Paul Furlong, before finding the corner from eight yards for the opening goal of the game on 18 minutes.
Captain Micah Hyde doubled the lead at the start of the second half, poking home a fine Furlong pull-back from just a couple of yards out, the Darlington defence having gone AWOL.
Seemingly dead and buried, the Quakers suddenly started to play, and Barnet keeper Jake Cole had to pull off some important saves.
The Bees needed the cushion of a third goal, O'Flynn brilliantly guiding a header into the far corner after a deep Ahmed Deen cross.
The Quakers did finally find the net 16 minutes from time via a crisp Mor Diop shot, but it proved to be no more than a consolation for Steve Staunton's troops.
If Barnet were looking nervous with a two-goal cushion, another goal for the Quakers might have made the game very interesting, but it never materialised.
It was the hosts' clinical finishing that was the difference between the two sides. In truth, Barnet did not create that many chances, probably less than Darlington overall, but Irishman O'Flynn is the sort of player that only needs one chance.
This game was not your classic FA Cup tie, but Barnet will not be complaining. As Hendon summed up: 'It's job done."
BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; Deen, Yakubu (Kamdjo 67), Breen, Gillet; Adomah (Jarrett 72), Hughes, M Hyde, Bolasie (Deverdics 87); O'Flynn, Furlong. Subs not used: Viner, Leach, Hart, J Hyde.
Attendance: 1,654.
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