Barnet 1 AFC Bournemouth 1 (From Times Series)

Barnet 1 AFC Bournemouth 1

9:40pm Tuesday 1st December 2009

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Keeper Jake Cole pulled off a brilliant second-half penalty save to earn Barnet a point against the league leaders at Underhill this evening.

Cole pulled off his wonder save 15 minutes from time, as both sides pressed for a winner.

John O'Flynn had given the Bees the lead, only to see the Cherries equalise just before the interval.

Barnet were good value for the point, having played some excellent football in the first half, in particular.

It means they remain unbeaten at home, though this was their third draw on the trot at Underhill.

Manager Ian Hendon made a number of changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday.

He gave debuts to two loan signings. Calum Butcher started in the centre of defence at the expense of Daniel Leach, while Craig McAllister came in up front for Paul Furlong.

There was one change in midfield, Albert Adomah coming in for Yannick Bolasie.

The Bees should have taken the lead with their first chance. Albert Jarrett crossed from the left and Adomah rose to head over, almost unchallenged. He should have at least forced keeper Shwan Jalal into a save.

But Barnet did gain their reward on 15 minutes. After a fine move, Adomah saw Jalal block his initial shot, but the ball fell out to John O'Flynn who, from a tight angle, drove it towards the net. The ball was cleared by a defender, but the assistant referee said it had crossed the line.

It was just the start the hosts had wanted.

And it was almost two minutes later following the move of the match, O'Flynn eventually sliding the ball just wide after Micah Hyde had put him through.

Barnet were playing some lovely football, new boy McAllister enjoying a fine start to his Underhill career.

Another McAllister flick-on set up O'Flynn again, but the Irishman's shot on the turn was parried by Jalal.

Adomah then curled an effort wide, as the Bees continued to press.

But, for all of Barnet's excellent play, Bournemouth provided a first-half sucker punch, Brett Pitman finding the corner with a superb volley after an Ismail Yakubu clearance dropped invitingly on to his foot.

It was a great goal, but cruel on Barnet, who had been by far the better team in the opening 45 minutes.

The Cherries might have gone ahead at the start of the second half, Micah Hyde having to hook a Steve Fletcher header almost from the line.

At the other end, Adomah was wide with a header following a Kenny Gillet cross.

Bournemouth were more in the game after the interval and Pitman was again unlucky with a volley on the turn, keeper Jake Cole making the save.

Midway through the half, Cole did well to tip over a Lee Bradbury drive.

With 15 minutes to go, an awful Ahmed Deen headed back pass fell short and Cole brought down Pitman as he raced towards goal.

But Cole pulled off a superb penalty save to deny Pitman.

It was probably justice done, as Cole seemed to have got the ball in the challenge that earned the visitors their spot kick.

Deen could have made amends at the other end, but drove over when the ball fell to him in a good position.

The Cherries were now looking the likelier to find a winner, and Cole had to pull off another fine save to keep out a long-range Pitman effort.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; Deen, Yakubu, Butcher, Gillet; Adomah, Hughes, M Hyde, Jarrett; O'Flynn (J Hyde 70), McAllister (Furlong 62). Subs not used: Carpenter, Leach, Deverdics, Bolasie, Charles.

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