8:06pm Saturday 18th March 2006
By Paul Wreyford
Peterborough United 2 Barnet 2 . . .
Barnet hit two goals with just one striker on the pitch at London Road this afternoon, but it still was not enough to give them victory.
The Bees led twice, but were unable to hold on for their first away win since August.
And, with both Torquay and Rushden & Diamonds winning, Paul Fairclough's troops are now just one point off the relegation zone.
Fairclough, speaking after goals from Andy Hessenthaler and Barry Fuller had earned a point, preferred to look on the positive side.
He said: "I thought it was a fantastic battling performance. We stuck to the plan of attacking on the break and we got our rewards. We could have, and should have, won the game at the death."
He was referring to a chance for Liam Hatch in the second minute of injury time. Hatch, still to score this season, did everything right after being set up via a lovely move involving Dean Sinclair and Dwane Lee, but, with just the keeper to beat, he shot over the bar.
Fairclough refused to blame Hatch, however, and described him as a warrior for his efforts as the lone striker.
Fairclough was forced to play with just one up front because of injuries to Giuliano Grazioli, Tresor Kandol and Jason Norville.
He said: "It's ironic . . . we play one up front and score two goals away from home."
Barnet got off to a great start when Hessenthaler fired them in front on ten minutes. A Nicky Bailey free-kick into the box caused the home defence problems and, after an attempted clearance hit Simon King, the ball rolled into the path of the 40-year-old who had drifted wide, and he coolly tucked the ball across the keeper and into the far corner.
The Bees looked the better side in the first half-hour but Posh began to show signs they were waking up just before the interval. Peter Gain struck the outside of the post and Sean St Ledger volleyed straight into the arms of Ross Flitney when well placed.
The hosts got back on terms eight minutes into the second half. Flitney chose to come for a long ball down the left, but had no chance of beating Crow to it and the striker lifted it over the keeper's head from the angle of the box.
Peterborough were now looking the better side and Flitney made amends for his earlier error by pulling off fine saves to deny Crow and St Ledger when both looked set to score.
And, out of the blue, Barnet struck with 20 minutes to go. Sinclair, with his back to goal, picked up a low Lee cross at the near post and held the ball up before back-heeling it into the path of the incoming Fuller, who rammed it into the roof of the net from just outside the six-yard box.
But the lead lasted just five minutes this time, when a corner was headed goalwards and sub Richard Logan helped it in from close range.
Either side might have won it in the latter stages, but Hatch was presented with the best chance and the Bees had to settle for a point.
BARNET (4-5-1): Flitney, Fuller, Yakubu, Charles, Clist; Bailey, Lee, King, Hessenthaler (Vernazza 84), Sinclair; Hatch.
Attendance: 3,983.
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