3:31pm Sunday 2nd January 2005
By Paul Wreyford
Barnet 2 Stevenage Borough 1 . . .
Defender Ismail Yakubu popped up three minutes from time to gain sweet revenge for the Bees.
The disappointment of Boxing Day's reversal at Broadhall Way became a distant memory as Yakubu headed home a deep Nicky Bailey corner from inside the six-yard box.
It sent most of the bumper crowd wild and edged Barnet closer to the Football League.
Stevenage will feel they did enough to have earned at least a point, but battling Barnet, hit by injury and suspension, once again showed their fighting spirit.
The only down side was an injury to defender Simon King. He hobbled off at half-time with a hamstring problem and could be out for two weeks.
The Bees struggled to get going in the first half. Borough had the better chances early on with Dino Maamria coming close on two occasions. He first headed just over and then saw another header hacked off the line by Simon Clist.
Barnet were struggling to make an impact and it was against the run of play when they broke the deadlock on 33 minutes.
Clist sent a ball over the top which defender Jason Goodliffe allowed to bounce. Giuliano Grazioli nipped in and expertly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.
The goal lifted Barnet and Lee Roache was unlucky not to hit a second a minute before the break, his shot on the turn going just wide.
Borough were back on level terms five minutes after the interval, Simon Weatherstone slamming home a Brian Quailey centre.
Grazioli found the net five minutes later, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Stevenage continued to look strong on the break and Anthony Elding somehow failed to reach a low cross with the goal gaping.
The game looked to be heading for a draw, which might have been the fairest result, but Yakubu was on hand to make it another memorable day for the Bees.
BARNET (4-4-2): Tynan; Batt, Yakubu, King (Champion 45), Clist; Lopez (Graham 67), Bailey, Sinclair, Strevens; Roache (McBean 83), Grazioli.
Attendance: 3,520.
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