6:25pm Monday 28th March 2005
By Paul Wreyford
Barnet 1 Canvey Island 0 . . .
Barnet are just one game away from lifting the Conference title.
Ben Strevens headed the only goal of the game to give the Bees another three points.
But manager Paul Fairclough insisted afterwards that he would not rest until it was mathematically impossible for his side to be caught.
He was again full of praise for his players, who did just enough to see off a spirited Canvey side in front of the highest gate of the season at Underhill.
The visitors had the better opportunities in the first half, despite Barnet having most of the play.
But once Strevens had notched his third goal in three games just before the hour, there was only going to be one winner.
This was not vintage Barnet, but, with the finishing line so close now, it was all about three points this afternoon.
Canvey's Jeff Minton had the game's first chance, forcing Scott Tynan into action within two minutes, the Barnet keeper doing well to hold his driven free-kick.
Junior McDougald then came close with a drive that flashed just wide with Tynan rooted to the spot.
Barnet were struggling to create clear-cut chances and were too frequently left frustrated by the offside flag.
The winner came 13 minutes into the second half, as the hosts visibly began to move up a gear.
Richard Graham beat his marker and put in an inviting cross for the unmarked Strevens to burst into the six-yard box and head down into the corner.
Liam Hatch might have sealed it two minutes later but drove wide at the near post after being freed down the left by Simon King.
Ben Sedgemore shot straight at Tynan at the other end, while Hatch then saw a header strike the upright with just five minutes to go.
The Gulls were unable to launch a late siege and Barnet held on with ease, sub Lee Roache seeing the keeper save the final chance of the match from a Graham centre.
BARNET (4-4-2):Tynan; Hendon, King, Yakubu, Clist; Graham, Lee (Bailey 79), Sinclair, Strevens; Grazioli (Roache 87), Hatch. Subs not used: Gore, Batt, Charles.
Attendance: 3,759.
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