Carlisle United v Barnet - Local Newspaper Reports
REPORT FROM THE CUMBERLAND NEWS
HUGE CROWD SEES BLUES BLOW IT AS RAMPANT BEES STAY TOP
Ian Hendon:Scored the opening goal from the penalty spot.
While Barnet produced the kind of clinical efficiency we expect of tennis star Roger Federer when he takes to the grass courts at Wimbledon every summer, Carlisle United's display on Saturday was more in the mould of a Tim Henman so near and yet so far show.
The Nationwide Conference's top two teams traded blow after blow at BruntonPark but the decisive shots went in favour of the visitors as they strengthened their position at the summit of the table.
Missed opportunities in front of goal eventually proved costly for Paul Simpson's team as they surrendered to well-organised, confident opponents who produced a killer instinct when it mattered.
But although Barnet deserved their eventual triumph, albeit with the aid of a dreadful refereeing decision, there remains an awful long way to go in the race for promotion and United have plenty of time to prove that this is only a temporary blip as they pursue an immediate return to the Football League.
To achieve that they need to become more consistent when it comes to taking chances, as the goal feasts that have been enjoyed against the likes of Aldershot, Leigh RMI and Farnborough go hand in hand with penalty box struggles against teams such as Canvey Island, Burton and now Barnet.
After finding themselves 2-0 down after just half an hour on Saturday, United reduced their arrears when Brendan McGill pulled a goal back just before the interval.
Opportunities came and went as Carlisle surged forward in search of an equaliser, and Dwayne Lee rose unmarked to put a dagger into the heart of the hosts when he completed the scoring for the Bees with 12 minutes remaining.
"We had four very good chances in the second half but we failed to take them. Barnet are a good football side and they deserved to win it as they put opportunities away," conceded Simpson, whose team lost for the first time in 14 Conference fixtures this season.
"We have come unstuck and our unbeaten start to the season has come to an end, but we now have to start all over again and try to go on another good run.
"We'll dust ourselves down and get ready for the next one against Hereford and hopefully we can quickly get back to winning ways."
Chris Lumsdon returned to pull the strings at the heart of United's midfield but the game got off to a controversial start with Barnet being awarded a penalty in just the second minute.
Richard Graham's cross struck Lee Andrews - even if it was his arm it wasn't intentional - but although a couple of players appealed for a spot-kick it came as a major surprise when referee Ian Nolan remarkably pointed to the spot.
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday defender Ian Hendon stepped up and slotted it into the bottom right-hand corner of Matty Glennon's goal, and the early goal ruffled United's feathers. Tackles flew in as Simpson's team temporarily lost their discipline, and Chris Billy was soon shown a yellow card after a foul on Dean Sinclair.
Glennon made saves to prevent Hendon and Lee from extending Barnet's advantage before Lumsdon was cautioned for dissent after protesting at Nolan's decision to give nothing when Magno Vieira appeared to be tripped by Simon Clist as he raced towards goal.
Carlisle continued to look sluggish as Barnet's one-touch passing game and quick attacking play caused problems, although Vieira did force Scott Tynan to make an impressive diving save after 15 minutes.
Dean Sinclair spurned a good opportunity for Paul Fairclough's side before Peter Murphy became the third United player to receive a booking after kicking out at Hendon, who was using his experience to try and wind opponents up.
Vieira failed to get his shot on target after reaching Lumsdon's ball over the top before onrushing goalkeeper Tynan could get to it, and Barnet then doubled their advantage.
Tom Cowan allowed Sinclair to send in a wicked low cross from the right and Blues skipper Kevin Gray watched on in horror as he deflected it into his own net.
Vieira and Gray threatened as Carlisle began to create chances, mainly from set-pieces, and they finally got some reward just before the break when McGill forced the ball home.
Murphy's cross from the left was touched on by Lumsdon and after McGill's shot was blocked by Tynan, the ball ricocheted against the Irishman and trickled into the back of the net.
United attempted to up the tempo on the restart but Hendon smashed a shot over the crossbar following Lee's tremendous crossfield pass before Glennon made a smart stop to prevent Sinclair, a constant threat from midfield, grabbing a third.
Billy's surging runs and precise passes provided Karl Hawley with two one-on-one opportunities around the hour mark, but the ex-Walsall man had his first effort blocked by Tynan and then saw his second effort hacked to safety by Hendon after steering the ball past the keeper.
Hawley has now gone a month without a goal but he almost set up an equaliser after 74 minutes when he played the ball into Murphy's path but the midfielder failed to get any power in his right-foot shot from 10 yards.
It was a fantastic opportunity and after Tynan made a brilliant save to keep out Billy's effort following McGill's cross, Barnet stunned the 9,000-plus crowd when Lee was allowed to rise unmarked to head home Clist's corner from the right.
The goal took the wind out of United's sails and there was no way back in the closing stages as the visitors maintained their impressive defensive stability.
REPORT FROM THE TIMES & STAR
By Lee Rowcroft
CARLISLE United boss Paul Simpson has slammed referee Ian Nolan's controversial display during the Blues' 3-1 home defeat to table-topping Barnet on Saturday.
Simpson, whose side missed the chance to go top after suffering their first defeat of the season, believes a more experienced official should have been in charge for such an important game in front of more than 9,000 fans.
The Blues remain second in the Nationwide Conference but are now six points behind the leaders.
United were rocked onto the back foot almost immediately after Nolan awarded the Bees a controversial penalty just 70 seconds into the clash.
The Lancashire referee ruled that Lee Andrews had handled Richard Graham's cross, allowing Barnet skipper Ian Hendon to score from the spot to put the visitors on their way to victory.
Andrews insists he didn't handle the ball and that even if it had struck his arm, it was definitely not intentional.
Simpson, whose team will find out who they will meet in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round today, felt Nolan's overall performance was below standard.
He said: "The penalty decision seemed incredibly harsh.
"It didn't look like one and Lee has told me that the ball didn't even hit his arm - but the referee has given it.
"I thought his performance was poor and I felt he lost the plot in the first half.
"There needs to be a strong, experienced official for a game like this but we didn't have that.
"The refereeing has been pretty good in our other games but on this occasion it wasn't up to scratch in what was a big match."
Despite Nolan's performance, Simpson conceded that a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal eventually cost his side dear.
Brendan McGill had dragged United back into the game after they had gone 2-0 down but Karl Hawley, Peter Murphy and Chris Billy were among those who missed chances to equalise in the second half before Dwayne Lee's free header from a corner sealed the points for the visitors.
Only the Conference champions gain automatic promotion, with the next four teams playing off for the second promotion place.
Simpson added: "I thought the final score flattered Barnet but they took their chances and we didn't.
"I've told the players that we have beaten ourselves at the end of the day with our poor finishing and the lads responsible have said they should have taken them.
"But nothing was ever going to be decided on the basis of this result"
ANOTHER REPORT FROM THE TIMES & STAR
By Lee Rowcroft
It would have graced League One
BARNET boss Paul Fairclough believes Saturday's dramatic first-versus-second clash with Carlisle United was as good as anything outside the Premiership.
A magnificent crowd of 9,215 flocked to Brunton Park - the second biggest ever in the Nationwide Conference and higher than all bar one game in Coca-Cola League One and Two.
The packed crowd saw a fast, attacking game and Fairclough said: "This match wouldn't have been out of place if it had been an old Division One fixture.
"There was a great crowd and a lot of decent football played by both sides.
"It is a special moment for me as Carlisle are a very, very good side and I'm sure they will be challenging at the top all the way through the season.
"Hopefully that will also be the case with ourselves and I'm sure we'll be battling against each other.
"Carlisle have probably played worse than this in other games but won ,and I was very impressed with the relentless approach they took in trying to get an equaliser in the second half," said Fairclough, as his team went six points clear.
"They are strong, aggressive and take risks but I thought we took them by surprise by taking the game to them from the start.
"Some teams are probably intimidated when they come up here but we've got a few young lads in the side and the youth of today has no fear."
Thanks to churchlangbee for his contribution to these articles
