Kandol winner sinks Quakers (From Times Series)

Kandol winner sinks Quakers

6:38pm Saturday 25th March 2006 in Sport By Paul Wreyford

Barnet 1 Darlington 0 . . .

Tresor Kandol headed a winner ten minutes from time to ease the Barnet relegation fears at Underhill this afternoon.

The striker rose to head a Nicky Bailey cross off a defender into the back of the net.

It was one of few incidents in what was a dire contest.

But manager Paul Fairclough was just happy to claim three points.

"It was a big, big win for the club and the supporters and players.

"At this stage of the season, it was all about winning," he said.

And Fairclough also praised keeper Ross Flitney who pulled off a superb triple save to deny the visitors an undeserved equaliser in the final minutes.

"In every season you have defining moments. That little five-second space of time could be the defining moment of this season."

Flitney got down low to save a shot from the edge of the box and, with the Darlington forwards lining up to put in the rebound, he blocked two further efforts when it looked like a certain goal.

But, apart from that moment three minutes from time, that was all the Quakers could muster.

Not that the Bees were much better.

The first half was completely devoid of action and neither team even came close to testing the two goalkeepers.

In fact, the only effort on target was a Kandol header from a Dean Sinclair cross, but it was straight at Darlington number one Sam Russell.

It was not much better after the break, but at least there were a few more chances.

Jonjo Dickman and Taiwo Atieno saw efforts go well wide for the visitors before Sinclair drove the wrong side of the post from a Liam Hatch pull-back.

Sinclair might have earned a penalty midway through the half when he was hauled down in the box but the referee waved away the appeals.

The goal finally came in the 80th minute and it was Kandol's fourth in six games.

Hatch almost sealed it with a beautifully-hit 25-yard drive which Russell was forced to push behind.

Darlington had offered nothing, but, as the game entered the final stages, they were forced to push forward, and Flitney was forced to prove his worth with his superb triple save.

BARNET: (4-5-1): Flitney; Fuller, Yakubu, Charles, Clist; Sinclair, Hessenthaler (Warhurst 77), Lee (Hatch 62), King (Vernazza 66), Bailey; Kandol. Subs not used: Reed, Strevens.

Attendance: 2,845.