8:42pm Sunday 21st March 2010
by MERVIN REBILLIARD
Darlington 1 Barnet 2
Coca-Cola League 2, Saturday, 20th March 2010
Barnet’s recent upturn in away form continued with a 2-1 victory against bottom of the table Darlington on Saturday, prompting manager Ian Hendon to comment: “We now believe that when we play away from home we are going to pick up points, which probably wasn’t the case until just after the turn of the year”.
Barnet started with a 4-3-3 formation which had top goalscorer John O’Flynn as the focal point with Albert Adomah and Albert Jarrett lending support from wide areas.
Hendon is keen to point out: “This formation is definitely not a defensive 4-5-1, the three lads upfront have license to go and create”.
The Bees scored two fine goals in a first half that they dominated to such an extent that the home side was booed off the pitch at the interval.
A volley by Dave Livermore from inside the box and a superb individual goal by Albert Adomah in the first period tipped the match in the favour of the Bees, although the Quakers did have their moments and the former England Under 21 striker Noel Whelan should have done better when well placed.
“We played well in the first half”, felt Hendon, “We looked bright and we were always likely to catch them on the counter attack”.
Barnet’s two goal lead was reduced early in the second half when Gary Breen turned the ball into his own net and the home side, scenting a possible way back into the match, upped their game.
Hendon conceded: “To be fair to Darlington in the second half they did come out and have a go at us and their goal did change the complexion of the game a bit, we did start to look a bit edgy, but we hung on in there”.
Centre-back Clovis Kamdjo needed to be on his mettle when he was alert to the danger and made a goal line clearance in the closing minutes that would have denied the Bees their fourth away win of the season.
Jake Cole in goal continued his good form this campaign and when called upon was equal to anything that Darlington could muster.
Darlington are rooted at the foot of the table and seem destined to be relegated but Hendon stated that: All away games are difficult in this league, we didn’t take them lightly, we had them watched, we’d done our homework and thankfully that hard work paid off”.
Any lingering fears Barnet may have of relegation were considerably helped by these three points won on their travels with a confident Hendon declaring: “We are not out of the woods yet, we are well aware of that, but today’s result takes us in the right direction, I’m sure we’’ be fine”.
BARNET: (4-3-3) Cole 8, Devera 7, Breen 6, Kamdjo 6, Lockwood 6, M.Hyde 6, Hughes 5, Livermore 7, Adomah 7, O’Flynn 6 (J. Hyde 5), Jarrett 6 (Gillet 5) STARMAN: Jake Cole looked commanding in all he did and made vital saves when needed.
Attendance: 1463 (82 Barnet fans)
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.times-series.co.uk/trade_directory/