Barnet 0 Northampton Town 0 (From Times Series)

Barnet 0 Northampton Town 0

4:53pm Monday 28th December 2009 in

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Ten-man Barnet held on to earn a point at Underhill this afternoon.

The Bees played the final half-hour with ten men after Dean Sinclair was red-carded for a second bookable offence.

It meant the game swung in Northampton's favour, but the Cobblers could not find a way through.

Though the hosts are desperate for three points at the moment, in the circumstances this was at least a morale-boosting victory, the Bees battling hard to ensure they got something from the game.

Barnet boss Ian Hendon made a number of changes from the side that lost to Aldershot on Boxing Day.

Ryan O'Neill returned to right-back, with Joe Devera moving to the centre of defence at the expense of Calum Butcher.

Skipper Micah Hyde, winger Albert Jarrett and the on-loan Dean Sinclair came into the midfield, which meant star player Albert Adomah had to settle for a place on the bench.

Up front, Craig McAllister was preferred to Paul Furlong.

Barnet had a great chance to take the lead on seven minutes when McAllister set up John O'Flynn, but his volley from ten yards lacked power and was straight at keeper Chris Dunn.

Courtney Herbert should have done better at the other end, but blazed well over from a central position.

Midway through the half, Jarrett swung over a corner and Ismail Yakubu rose to meet the ball with his head, only to see his effort nodded off the line by a defender at the far post.

Though the Bees probably edged the first 45 minutes, they did not really do enough to deserve a half-time lead, both sides lacking imagination and creativity in the final third.

In fact, the liveliest moment came after the half-time whistle had gone, Sinclair retaliating to a shove from Joe Benjamin. Both players escaped with yellow cards.

Northampton should have broken the deadlock two minutes into the second half, but Luke Gutteridge screwed his shot wide after things had opened up nicely for him out on the right.

Just before the hour mark, the Bees were down to ten men, Sinclair receiving a second yellow card, this time for hauling back Peter Gilbert.

To make matters worse, Yakubu hobbled off injured at the same time.

The Cobblers now had the initiative and went looking for a winner.

Jake Cole had to pull off a fine diving save to repel a Billy McKay drive from the edge of the area, and then gathered a Benjamin cracker just a few minutes later.

But Barnet boss Hendon reacted by bringing on two attacking wingers, believing attack was now the best form of defence.

With 20 minutes to go, a lapse in concentration by Devera let in McKay, but the Northampton sub spurned the chance.

Gutteridge then again forced Cole to turn round a long-distance effort, as the Cobblers continued to press.

At the other end, there were calls for a penalty when a charging Adomah was bundled over, but nothing was given.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; O'Neill, Yakubu (Deen 60), Devera, Gillet; Sinclair, Hughes, M Hyde, Jarrett; O'Flynn (Adomah 67), McAllister (Bolasie 67). Subs not used: Carpenter, Deverdics, J Hyde, Furlong.

Attendance: 2,237.