Cheltenham Town 5 Barnet 1 (From Times Series)

Cheltenham Town 5 Barnet 1

9:43pm Tuesday 24th November 2009

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Travel-sick Barnet crashed to their sixth straight defeat on the road at Whaddon Road this evening.

And it all started so well for the Bees, Irishman John O'Flynn giving them an early lead.

But poor defending cost them dear, the visitors' makeshift defence enduring a torrid evening.

Though unbeaten on home soil, it is a different matter away from home for Barnet, their last success on their travels back in early September when they beat Northampton Town.

To make matters worse, this was only struggling Cheltenham's second win at home, and their first three points since September.

Barnet boss Ian Hendon named the same side that drew 0-0 with Port Vale on Saturday.

Without four key defenders (Gary Breen, Clovis Kamdjo, Joe Devera and Ryan O'Neill), Daniel Leach once again came in to partner Ismail Yakubu in the centre of defence, while left-back Ahmed Deen was once more asked to fill the right-back position.

There was also a place for 41-year-old Paul Furlong, who scored his first senior goal at Whaddon Road some 22 years ago.

The Bees started much the better of the two teams and got their reward as early as the 13th minute, O'Flynn getting on the end of an Albert Jarrett cross to head past keeper Scott P Brown.

The goal was not surprisingly well celebrated by the small contingent of travelling fans. Prior to the game, just Lincoln City had scored less goals on the road than Barnet, the Bees having managed just six, and three of those came in one game.

However, the visitors' lead lasted less than ten minutes, Andy Gallinagh meeting a David Bird cross to find the back of the net with a well-taken header from close range.

Cheltenham had not won in 11 matches, but the equaliser gave them some much-needed confidence.

And it got worse for the Bees ten minutes before the interval, when Justin Richards crossed for Ben Marshall to head the Robins in front.

Manager Hendon reacted by bringing on star winger Albert Adomah in place of Bolasie at the start of the second half, Adomah having surprisingly started on the bench for the second game running.

Barnet needed to start the second half well if they wanted to get back into the game, but their job only became more difficult ten minutes in.

Marshall, scorer of Cheltenham's second goal, this time returned the favour by setting up Richards, who put the Robins 3-1 up with the fourth headed goal of the night.

Like on Saturday, Barnet created plenty of chances and Town keeper Brown was kept busy, but ultimately it was another frustrating away-day for Hendon's troops.

And, despite Barnet's best efforts, the Robins rubbed salt into the wounds with a fourth and fifth goal just a few minutes from the end, Marshall on target for his second of the night, before Ismail Yakubu put the ball into his own net.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; Deen, Yakubu, Leach, Gillet (Lockhart-Adams 79); Bolasie (Adomah 45), Hughes, M Hyde, Jarrett; O'Flynn, Furlong (J Hyde 64). Subs not used: Carpenter, Scott, Hart, Deverdics.

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