Lee heads winner . . . again (From Times Series)

Lee heads winner . . . again

4:36pm Saturday 31st December 2005 in

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Barnet 1 Boston United 0 . . .

Dwane Lee headed a Barnet winner for the second consecutive home game.

The midfielder, who scored in the 2-1 win against Peterborough on Boxing Day, planted a header into the corner of the net two minutes after the interval to seal another three points at Underhill this afternoon.

Manager Paul Fairclough was delighted with the win, which made it six from nine points over the Christmas period so far.

He said: "It was not pretty, it was not flamboyant, but it was what was required.

"We have been playing without belief for the last few weeks . . . at half time it was all about convincing the players they are good enough at this level."

Indeed, the first half was a dire affair, with neither side able to stamp their authority on the game.

But the Bees, who lost Simon King during the warm-up, came out a different team after the break and fully deserved the points.

Fairclough added: "We stayed strong and didn't give them many opportunities. We played as a real unit today.

"It was a magnificent performance under the circumstances."

Barnet, who were also without the injured Ian Hendon and Giuliano Grazioli, created a number of good openings in the second half and never really struggled to keep Boston at bay.

But the first 45 minutes were not pretty. Neither side could get a grip and there were few opportunities.

It had to get better in the second, and it did. Within a minute, Nicky Bailey, captain for the day, freed Damian Batt down the right and he saw Conrad Logan push over his shot after the right-back had cut inside on to his left foot.

From the corner, Boston failed to clear their lines and Sinclair crossed for Lee to head home what proved to be the winner.

Bailey almost made it two with a powerful 25-yard drive, but Logan did well to push it over.

Dean Sinclair then helped on a Bailey cross with 20 minutes to go, but the ball went straight into the keeper's arms.

Boston were struggling to make any impact at the other end and the Bees always looked the more likelier to score.

Both Sinclair and Ismail Yakubu saw close-range efforts blocked following a Paulo Vernazza corner, before the Pilgrims finally carved out a chance for themselves with just a few minutes to go.

Ross Flitney could not get to a high free-kick into the box and Simon Clist had to clear the ball from almost on the line when it was hooked goalwards, though there was never any doubt he would do so.

The final chance of the match saw sub Jason Norville drill a shot across goal and wide.

The hosts finished the half, as they started it, well on top and, though they only had one goal to show for their efforts, they were worthy winners.

BARNET (4-4-2): Flitney; Batt, Yakubu, Charles, Clist; Vernazza, Sinclair, Lee, Bailey; Strevens (Norville 90), Hatch. Subs not used: Tynan, Hickie, Roach, Bowditch.

Attendance: 2,287.