Bees crash out of FA Trophy

8:35pm Sunday 6th February 2005

Carlisle United 4 Barnet 1 . . .

An under-strength Barnet crashed out of the FA Trophy at Christie Park this afternoon.

Three goals within the first 20 minutes did the damage as a rampant Carlisle ripped into the visitors' markeshift defence.

Nicky Bailey pulled one back on the half-hour but within six minutes United had added a fourth and the match was over as a contest.

A crowd of just 1,575 (almost 10,000 watched the league encounter between these two sides) suggested both sets of fans were not placing this competition too high on their list of priorities.

But for the Barnet faithful who left in the early hours in order to make the 1pm kick-off, it proved to be a disappointing day out.

And the afternoon was made worse by an injury to Damian Batt, who was carried off midway through the first half.

Carlisle dominated the opening period and struck on eight minutes, Magno Vieira setting up Craig Farrell for the opener.

The same combination made it two just five minutes later, Farrell again beating Shane Gore to put the Cumbrians well on top.

Vieira, who was causing no end of problems, then got on the scoresheet himself with an unstoppable shot from inside the box to leave the Bees shellshocked.

Bailey headed them a lifeline but Vieira completed his brace to kill off the match before half-time.

Barnet raised their game after the interval, with sub Richard Graham looking as dangerous as ever, but a dramatic comeback never looked on the cards, and the second half was something of a formality.

Graham, Ben Strevens and Dean Sinclair all created openings, but the Carlisle defence held firm.

This was a day to forget for Barnet in what has otherwise, up to now, been a very memorable season.

BARNET (4-4-2): Gore; Batt (Graham 24), Charles, Champion, Clist; Bailey, Lopez, Lee, Sinclair; McBean, Strevens. Subs not used: Millard, King, Elmes.

Attendance: 1,575.