Bees deserved their point against Bournemouth (From Times Series)

Bees deserved their point against Bournemouth

12:31pm Wednesday 2nd December 2009 in Sport

Barnet boss Ian Hendon paused when he was asked whether he was happy with a point against the league leaders after this entertaining clash at Underhill on Tuesday night.

The pause was perhaps an indication that he has set his sights high this season.

Most would definitely have settled for a point against a side who look as unbeatable away from home as Barnet look unbeatable at home.

In the end, the draw was a predictable and 'fair result'.

The Bees bossed the first half, while the Cherries looked the likelier to find a winner after the interval, and only a wonder save from keeper Jake Cole 15 minutes from time prevented them from doing just that.

But Hendon could not understand how his troops were not home and dry at the interval.

"The game should have been out of sight at half-time. We had lots of chances and played some great football in the first half. It was some of the best football we've played all season.

"On the other hand, we could have lost it in the second half."

John O'Flynn, Saturday's penalty hero at Accrington, fired Barnet into the lead on 15 minutes after Albert Adomah had seen keeper Shwan Jalal block his initial effort.

With Craig McAllister enjoying a fine debut, the Bees played some superb attacking football and should have added to their tally, O'Flynn guilty of a rare miss when put through by skipper Micah Hyde.

And the Cherries provided the sucker punch, scoring with their first shot on target a minute before the interval. An Ismail Yakubu clearance fell invitingly on to the boot of Brett Pitman, who found the bottom corner with a cracking first-time volley.

Both sides had chances to win it after the break and Bournemouth should have done just that when an awful Ahmed Deen headed back pass fell short and Cole was forced to bring down Pitman as he raced towards goal.

The honest keeper admitted afterwards that he did not get his hands to the ball.

But Pitman's well-hit penalty was brilliantly blocked by Cole and both sides were forced to settle for a point, preserving their impressive respective home and away records.

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.

Attendance: 2,030.