Hendon the hero for Bees (From Times Series)

Hendon the hero for Bees

6:50pm Saturday 8th April 2006 in Sport By Paul Wreyford

Barnet 2 Notts County 1 . . .

Captain Ian Hendon kept his cool to convert two second-half penalties as Barnet came from behind to earn three precious points.

Manager Paul Fairclough said: "It took a lot of courage to put those away today."

But Hendon said he was just doing his job.

"I used to take penalties when I was at Notts County and so I've always been taking them.

"I always look to at least hit them hard and fortunately both went in today. I could have been the hero or villain, but I'm captain and I have to take the responsibility."

Fairclough was delighted with the three points after Barnet had got the second half off to a "shocking" start, conceding a goal within a minute.

The Bees boss said: "It was a vital win for the club and most of all the supporters and players. It was a deserved win that was all about courage.

"Ian Hendon showed an enormous amount of courage under the circumstances, to keep his cool and composure."

He also paid tribute to the fans.

"The supporters were superb and played a huge role," Fairclough said.

This was an entertaining but tense affair. Both sides could have gone in front in the first half. Barnet had the first chance on eight minutes. Strikers Tresor Kandol and Ben Strevens forced an error at the back and found themselves with just the keeper to beat, but the former screwed his shot a foot wide when he should have at least hit the target.

At the other end, Ross Flitney blocked a Steve Scoffham shot on 36 minutes after Paul Warhurst, playing in the centre of defence, misjudged a bounce.

The final chance of the half fell to Strevens, who was set up by Barry Fuller, but Barnet's longest-serving player saw his shot beaten away by the keeper.

The second half began in explosive fashion. Scoffham broke down the right and drilled a low shot into the far corner. Not even a minute had gone.

But Barnet raised their game and, after Fuller was floored in an off-the-ball incident that went unpunished, the hosts began to play with even more intensity and desire.

Fairclough later remarked that incident could have been the defining moment of the game. The Bees were certainly riled by it and pushed forward with added determination.

On 63 minutes, a Nicky Bailey corner was flicked on by Anthony Charles and Strevens appeared to bundle the ball in at the far post. But the referee, instead of awarding a goal, pointed to the penalty spot after spotting an earlier infringement.

Hendon drove the ball down the middle for the equaliser.

Within ten minutes, Paolo Vernazza freed Andy Hessenthaler. The veteran never had the pace to beat David Pipe, but, as he held the ball up, the defender foolishly hauled him down inside the box.

Up stepped Hendon again. This time he blasted the ball into the top corner.

The Magpies pushed forward and created some nervous moments in the minutes that remained and Barnet almost threw it away in injury time. Nicky Bailey and Fuller appeared to get in each other's way and Pipe found himself with just Flitney to beat. The Notts County player had a glorious chance to make amends for his earlier error, but lifted the ball over the keeper and inches over the bar.

Fairclough admitted it was the bit of luck that the Bees were long overdue.

BARNET (4-4-2): Flitney; Hendon, Warhurst, Charles, Clist; Bailey, Vernazza, Hessenthaler (Sinclair 78), Fuller; Strevens, Kandol. Subs not used: Reed, Batt, Gross, Roache.

Attendance: 2,841.

Best Bee: Ian Hendon.