4:59pm Saturday 23rd August 2008
By Paul Wreyford
A much-improved second-half Barnet performance could not salvage a point at Underhill this afternoon.
This was a game of two penalties. Glenn Poole converted an early spot kick for the visitors, but Albert Adomah saw his effort saved just after the interval, as the home side fought back bravely after a dire first half.
Brentford were streets ahead in the opening period, but Barnet's second-half display, their best 45 minutes of the season to date, will have at least given fans some encouragement.
Barnet made a number of changes from the side that lost to Rochdale on Saturday. Loan signing Aswad Thomas came in at left-back for his debut, with Joe Devera moving to right-back.
That allowed Ashley Carew to move into midfield at the expense of Joe Tabiri.
Up front, Cliff Akurang returned to the starting line-up, with Luke Medley having to settle for a place on the bench.
The hosts started well, with Adam Birchall seeing a shot on the turn just flash over before a minute had gone.
But, after just nine minutes, Brentford's Brett Johnson surged into the box and was tripped by a trailing Barnet leg. The incident was just inside and the referee pointed to the spot. Glenn Poole made no mistake, sending Lee Harrison the wrong way with his penalty.
It was just the start Barnet, already low on confidence after three straight defeats, dreaded.
Poole had a chance to double the lead soon after. He played a neat one-two, but his shot was weak and Harrison made the save.
Midway through the half, Adomah robbed Adam Newton and sped towards goal. He chose to hit the ball early and his shot was always going over.
There were just signs that Barnet were getting into the game, but Brentford were still looking the more dangerous, and Nathan Elder was only inches wide with a diving header on the half-hour mark, Newton picking him out with a lovely cross.
The hosts continued to struggle to get out of their own half, their London neighbours looking for a killer second before half-time.
Barnet were not helped by what appeared to be a large number of refereeing decisions going against them, the players growing increasingly frustrated.
A sloppy piece of defending from Michael Leary let in Marvin Williams on the touchline, but Harrison came to the rescue, cutting out the Brentford player's cross.
Another very disappointing half for Barnet ended with Brentford well on top, the visitors looking stronger and quicker in all departments. A few boos greeted the home players as they headed for the tunnel and, no doubt, a half-time talking to from manager Paul Fairclough.
Barnet started the second half with much more purpose and were rewarded with a penalty within two minutes. Joe Devera's speculative left-foot shot was blocked and the ball fell out to Adomah. As he made space to shoot, the winger had his legs taken away. Adomah dusted himself down, but his penalty was poor, and keeper Ben Hamer pushed the ball out. Adam Birchall latched on to the rebound, but could only find the side netting from a tight angle. It was a wasted opportunity, but at least it had given the home fans some sign of hope.
Debutant Thomas then tried his luck from distance, but his well-hit effort was straight at the keeper.
The hosts were now showing a lot more fight, though Brentford continued to look dangerous on the break.
Barnet were unlucky not to equalise on the hour, when Adomah's powerful drive was parried by Hamer, the rebound just bouncing away from the onrushing Birchall.
Carew was putting in some lovely balls. On one occasion he freed sub Medley, but the striker failed to get a good connection, his shot not troubling Hamer.
The home fans were now fully behind the hosts, Barnet looking a different side from the dejected one that trudged off at half-time.
Midway through the second half, Birchall latched on to a Leary flick, but his shot on the turn bounced off the foot of the post.
With ten minutes to go, a Max Porter corner fell at the feet of Birchall, but he could only stab it into the hands of Hamer. It just about summed up Barnet's day.
And Brentford almost finished it off when Devera lost the ball to sub Moses Ademola, but Harrison came to the rescue with a fine tip over.
In the first minute of injury time, Neal Bishop freed Medley with a ball over the top. The striker took it round the keeper, but the angle proved too tight, his shot finishing wide of the empty net.
BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Devera, Yakubu, Leary, Thomas; Adomah, Porter, Bishop, Carew (St Aimie 83); Birchall (Charles 86), Akurang (Medley 62). Subs not used: Beckwith, Tabiri.
Attendance: 2,815.
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