Leaders Carlisle see off battling Bees (From Times Series)

Leaders Carlisle see off battling Bees

6:41pm Saturday 25th February 2006

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Barnet 1 Carlisle United 2 . . .

Barnet manager Paul Fairclough hailed his players for a stirring performance against the leaders, but it was still not enough for victory.

Fairclough said: "My players were amazing today. We didn't deserve to lose."

He added: "I believe we were the better team over 90 minutes."

But a lack of concentration at the back on a couple of occasions cost the Bees dear.

They are now well in the thick of it at the wrong end of League Two.

All the goals came in the second half. Once again, Barnet shot themselves in the foot by conceding within a minute of taking the lead.

But they almost saved themselves right at the death, only a brilliant save by Keiren Westwood keeping out a goalbound Dean Sinclair header in injury time.

The fierce wind was a major factor in the game. Barnet, with it behind them in the first half, enjoyed most of the possession in the opening 45 minutes, while United were the dominant after the break.

The first real chance of the game came on 27 minutes, when a fine one-two from Jason Norville and Giuliano Grazioli set up Ben Strevens, but, with the ball rolling away from him, he fired well over with his left foot.

Within a minute, Derek Holmes hooked a ball into the area against the post. Debut keeper Matt Reed, in for the ill Ross Flitney, was left rooted to the spot.

Barnet almost went in front just before the interval, when a Strevens free-kick was pushed behind by Westwood. From the corner, Sinclair headed just wide.

The opener finally came ten minutes into the second half. A Nicky Bailey ball into the box aimed for Anthony Charles was met by Holmes, but he could only send a looping header over his own keeper and into the top corner.

But the Bees had no time to settle. Straight from the kick-off, Holmes made amends by setting up Michael Bridges and he steered the ball past Reed for the equaliser.

Carlisle, with the wind behind them, were now looking the stronger side and it was no surprise when they struck 15 minutes from time. Bridges this time turned provider, laying the ball into the path of sub Simon Hackney who drilled it past Reed for what turned out to be the winner.

United might have wrapped it up seven minutes from time, but Zigor Aranalde was unlucky to see his powerful free-kick smash against the foot of the post.

In truth, Barnet created very little in the second half, though Sinclair almost earned a point when he met Bailey's cross with his head in a crowded box, but Westwood flung himself across the goal to secure the points.

BARNET (4-4-2): Reed; Fuller, Yakubu, Charles, Gross; Strevens, Sinclair, Hessenthaler, Bailey; Grazioli (Hatch 79), Norville. Subs not used: Jones, Hendon, Vernazza, Lee.

Attendance: 2,870.

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