Barnet 1 Crewe 2 (From Times Series)

Barnet 1 Crewe 2

4:53pm Saturday 12th December 2009 in Sport

Barnet saw their unbeaten home record in the league ended at Underhill this afternoon.

After an awful first half, the Bees improved dramatically but were hit by a goal against the run of play with 25 minutes to go.

It means they have not now won since the beginning of November and are sliding down the table fast.

Barnet boss Ian Hendon made a number of changes from the side that lost to Accrington in the FA Cup on Tuesday.

Craig McAllister returned up front for Paul Furlong, while Mark Hughes and Dean Sinclair were both given starts in midfield.

At the back, Daniel Leach came into the centre, with Calum Butcher moving to right-back at the expense of Ahmed Deen.

Crewe started the better and Luke Murphy drove across the face of the goal with the game's first effort.

Barnet responded through Albert Jarrett, but his low shot was straight at keeper Steve Phillips.

It was a quiet start, though Crewe's Matt Tootle received a yellow card for diving after Barnet keeper Jake Cole came out to close him down, the referee not fooled into giving a penalty.

Cole then saved the hosts with a fine block, Clayton Donaldson failing to convert the one-on-one chance after a long ball forward was flicked into his path.

The Bees were looking edgy at the back and it was no surprise when Crewe struck on 25 minutes. Butcher stretched for a ball over the top but only succeeded in directing it to Joel Grant, who advanced, before plating the ball into the far corner past a diving Cole.

But Barnet were back in the game five minutes before the interval. Jarrett crossed from the right and Sinclair struck out a leg to direct the ball home first time from a central position.

In truth, Crewe would have felt a little hard done by at not going in at the break in front, having outplayed the hosts for most of the half.

The goal gave the Bees the lift they needed and they started the second half positively, McAllister seeing an early header saved.

And they should have taken the lead on 53 minutes, O'Flynn latching on to a wayward pass, but firing wide with his left foot with just the keeper to beat. It was the sort of chance the Irishman normally tucks away.

O'Flynn then saw a shot blocked at the far post as the Bees continued to press.

The introduction of sub Yannick Bolasie also gave Barnet an added spring to their step, the hosts now looking the likelier to find a winner.

However, Crewe still looked dangerous on the break and they got the goal midway through the second half, Donaldson nipping between the last defender and keeper to gently lift the ball over the sprawling Cole.

The Bees almost equalised straight away, Micah Hyde seeing a drive clip the bar.

After that, clear-cut chances were few and far between and there was no way back for Barnet.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; Butcher, Yakubu, Leach, Gillet; Sinclair (Bolasie 56), Hughes, M Hyde, Jarrett; O'Flynn (J Hyde 78), McAllister (Furlong 78). Subs not used: Carpenter, Deen, Hart, Deverdics.

Attendance: 1,841.