4:53pm Saturday 26th July 2008
By Paul Wreyford
Barnet were beaten by two strikes of the highest quality at Underhill this afternoon.
League One Leeds showed the Bees how to finish with two outstanding goals either side of the interval.
The hosts played their part, particularly in the first half, but predictably tired in the latter stages.
Both teams fielded strong sides, though there was no Tresor Kandol, the man responsible for this pre-season friendly. The ex-Bee, now at Elland Road, has been suffering from a virus.
The Bees were without Joe Devera, Michael Leary taking his place in the centre of defence. New signing Nicky Deverdics started in central midfield.
Barnet had the first chance, Adam Birchall meeting a Danny Hart corner at the near post, while at the other end, Luciano fired over for Leeds.
Hart then tried his luck with a swerving effort which Casper Ankergren spilled, but the United keeper recovered before Cliff Akurang could pounce.
Birchall then dragged a shot wide after neatly bringing the ball under control.
It was a promising start from the Bees, but home keeper Rob Beckwith had to pull off a point-blank save to deny Luciano on 15 minutes, the visitors almost striking against the run of play.
Albert Adomah took a ball inside from Kenny Gillet, but his shot flashed across the goal and well wide, while Beckwith was out quickly to charge down an Enoch Showunmi shot from a tight angle.
The opening goal came ten minutes before the interval and it was well worth waiting for. There looked little danger when the ball fell to Andy Robinson 25 yards out, but he put the ball on to his right boot and curled a superb effort past the diving Beckwith to give Leeds the lead.
The Bees should have levelled a few minutes later, Birchall teeing up Adomah on the left, but the winger failed to keep his drive down.
The final chance of the half fell to Robinson again, but Beckwith this time comfortably plucked the ball out of the air, the striker's effort not quite so accurate on this occasion.
Barnet made a number of changes at the interval, with trialist keeper Ran Kadoch replacing Beckwith between the sticks. Fellow trialist Jeremy De Magalhaes came on for Leary, while Luke Medley and Kieron St Aimie replaced Akurang and Hart respectively.
The Bees might have scored within a minute, Ismail Yakubu meeting a Gillet cross at the near post, but failing to keep his diving header down.
And it was Leeds who extended their lead on 49 minutes, skipper Jonny Howson allowed to run at goal and curl the ball past Kadoch from the edge of the area. It was another quality strike.
United were now looking comfortable, Barnet having lost their way a little since the break.
However, Adomah got the crowd going again with a promising run, though his shot was straight at Ankergren.
On the hour, Medley crossed for Birchall, but the latter did not get a good connection, his close-range header flashing across the face of the goal. He should have perhaps done better.
At least the hosts were starting to fight back, and St Aimie stung the fingers of Ankergren with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.
Medley almost made the most of a poor clearance from the keeper, but the ball, after striking the sub, did not break kindly for him and rolled to safety.
Max Porter came on for a tiring Deverdics midway through the half, though the new boy could be satisfied with his home debut, having shown much promise.
The sapping heat made it difficult for the hosts and they struggled to create chances as the game wore on, many of the players showing signs of fatigue.
Leeds were now just content to go through the motions.
Joe Tabiri replaced Adam Birchall with seven minutes to go, though it was Kadoch who had to be alert to prevent Leeds from notching a third, the sub keeper saving an Andrew Hughes shot with his legs.
Tabiri did himself try his luck from distance a couple of minutes from time, but his shot was well over.
And Medley almost grabbed a last-gasp consolation, his lob, after Tabiri had put him in the clear, just going over the bar.
BARNET (4-4-2): Beckwith (Kadoch 45); Carew, Yakubu, Leary (De Magalhaes 45), Gillet; Adomah, Deverdics (Porter 67), Bishop, Hart (St Aimie 45); Birchall (Tabiri 83), Akurang (Medley 45).
Attendance: 2,644.
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