Imps leave Bees heartbroken (From Times Series)

Imps leave Bees heartbroken

1:14pm Thursday 16th February 2006 in Sport By Peter Stebbings

Barnet 2
Lincoln City 3
Coca-Cola League Division Two

Barnet, namely goalkeeper Ross Flitney, committed footballing suicide on Valentine's Day, throwing away a two-goal lead at Underhill.

This devastating self-induced defeat, coupled with results elsewhere, leaves the Bees peering nervously over their shoulder, just three points off the relegation places.

And yet, had it not been for two Flitney blunders in the second half, Paul Fairclough's side might have run out comfortable winners against the league's in-form side.

There was a hint of the drama that would follow as the visitors, managed by former Barnet striker Keith Alexander, carved out a series of openings in the first half.

Lincoln are very much Alexander's side. Like the player he was at Barnet, his team are big, strong and physical.

They might have taken the lead as early as the eighth minute, but the dangerous Simon Yeo was denied at close range by the out-stretched right leg of Flitney.

On 21 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, Barnet took the lead. A lovely deep cross by full-back Adam Gross found Giuliano Grazioli unmarked in the box. His first-time shot was well saved by Lincoln keeper Alan Marriott but Ben Strevens followed up to score with the rebound.

Both teams had chances to score before half-time. The best went to Lincoln, but Flitney saved the Bees twice in short succession after he could only parry the initial long-distance drive.

Eight minutes into the second half, Barnet went two-up. Lincoln were susceptible to the ball over the top all evening. On this occasion Tresor Kandol, making his second appearance for the Bees, scored with a well-executed lob to double his tally for Barnet.

A minute later, it all went wrong for Flitney and Barnet.

First, the former Fulham keeper completely lost a high ball into the box, managing only to spill it to Jamie McCombe, who prodded into an empty net.

Fairclough said afterwards the wind had been to blame.

On 65 minutes, Flitney gifted the away side a second goal. There seemed to be little danger as he went to clear the ball from a back pass.

But rather than hoofing it upfield, he scuffed it straight to the first Lincoln player, sub Gary Birch, who scored with ease with only the hapless Flitney standing in his way.

With Flitney and Barnet's resolve and confidence shot to pieces, Lincoln midfielder Nat Brown took the opportunity to shoot speculatively from 25 yards with only three minutes remaining.

On any normal day it would probably have gone high and wide, but this was no normal day, and the ball flew into the bottom corner of the net.

Flitney may well feel he ought to have done better with that one, too.