Bees fall to sucker punch (From Times Series)

Bees fall to sucker punch

6:36pm Saturday 5th August 2006 in

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Barnet 0 Torquay United 1 . . .

"We were mugged."

Those were the words of Barnet manager Paul Fairclough after the Bees succumbed to an injury-time Lee Thorpe winner at Underhill this afternoon.

The Gulls had offered nothing all game, but Barnet were made to pay for not putting away their chances in a disappointing opening-day encounter.

Fairclough said: "Football is a very cruel game. I would say they did a classic smash and grab on us.

"At half-time we talked about the possibility of being mugged. Torquay were not particularly interested in scoring. They were playing not to lose as oppose to win. It's a good tactic away from home and they will be very pleased."

Barnet did all the running, but, in truth, created few clear-cut chances. Most of their efforts either flew wide or over the bar, and Torquay keeper Nathan Abbey had few saves to make.

But a point would have been a just reward for Barnet's labours.

That was cruelly taken away from them in the final minute of injury time. Sub Jason Puncheon gave the ball away in the Torquay half and the visitors broke. But there still looked no danger until Paul Warhurst appeared to stub his foot in the ground and his back pass fell short. Lee Harrison raced out at the feet of Thorpe and got to the ball, but it squirmed away from him and Thorpe was able to slot home from a tight angle.

Barnet's best chance of the match had come in the 83rd minute. Sub Magno Vieira slipped fellow sub Tresor Kandol in, but his rasping shot was beaten away by Abbey.

The Bees had looked the likelier to score throughout the game, but they still lacked a cutting edge up front and only really carved out half chances.

Nicky Bailey headed a Richard Graham corner well over at the near post midway through the first half, while the latter saw a curling effort clear the post. Liam Hatch then dragged a shot well wide after the ball had been cleared to him on the edge of the box.

Torquay's only effort came from Mickey Evans, but his tame header from a Martin Phillips cross was straight at Harrison.

The second half continued in the same vein. Hatch slipped Graham in down the left but his shot was drilled straight at Abbey.

The Bees raised their game with the introduction of their three subs. Vieira saw a curling effort easily gathered by Abbey and then forced the keeper into another routine stop with a shot on the turn.

A cross-cum-shot from Ian Hendon was the final time the Bees threatened and the match looked to be heading for a goalless draw until Torquay struck with their sucker punch.

Fairclough added: "It was not the result we wanted or deserved. It's the price you pay at this level of football.

"It's one of those unfortunate things that happens in football. It's not a disaster, just a disappointment."

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Hendon, Warhurst, King, Gross; Sinclair, Hessenthaler, Bailey, Graham (Puncheon 65); Grazioli (Vieira 67), Hatch (Kandol 73). Subs not used: Thompson, Charles.

Attendance: 2,827.