Bailey sets cup cracker alight

By Paul Wreyford

Bristol City 2 Barnet 4
Carling Cup first round

Nicky Bailey hit the Conference goal of the season last year and it will take something very special to prevent him from lifting the Football League award this time.

The 21-year-old's moment of individual brilliance came just before the hour of a thrilling contest at Ashton Gate.

Bailey literally picked the ball up close to the right touchline before bursting towards the penalty area. The City defenders could only watch as he skipped past them and finally stuck the ball into the net with his left foot when he reached the centre of the box.

Whether it was his pace and close control, or just his sheer audacity in attempting to single-handedly take on the entire defence, the City rearguard were left dumbstruck as he danced past them.

Bailey's wonder goal put the Bees 3-1 up and, though there was plenty of drama still to come, it gave the visitors the two-goal cushion they needed to see off the Robins.

The goal would have been worth the admission fee alone, but this Carling Cup cracker had even more for Barnet fans to get excited about. There were many unsung heroes in Barnet shirts, such as keeper Ross Flitney, who pulled off some super saves, and Anthony Charles, who was a rock at the heart of the defence. Even sub Lee Roache, though he only saw 20 minutes of action, played his part in the triumph.

The City fans booed their team off the pitch at the final whistle, but many others, quite rightly, generously stood to applaud the visitors.

Barnet went for the jugular from the very start and City's 14th-minute opener was very much against the run of play, Scott Golbourne lighting the flame to this cracker with a powerful drive into the corner.

Within three minutes, Dwane Lee found the net through a crowd of players after one of many Barnet corners had only been half-cleared.

And Lee arrived at the far post to slam home a Richard Graham free-kick to put Barnet ahead early in the second half before Bailey weaved his magic for the third.

But City rallied and sub Michael Bridges swept in a Scott Murray cross with his first touch to restore home hopes on 65 minutes. It was frenetic end-to-end stuff and no surprise when Roache flicked in a Lee cross at the near post to restore the two-goal cushion with six minutes to go.

Still it was not over and Bailey (who else) was forced to clear a drive from Bridges off the line in the dying minutes before the celebrations could really begin.

BARNET (4-5-1): Flitney; Hendon, King, Charles, Gross; Strevens, Bailey, Lee, Bowditch (Norville 77), Graham; Grazioli (Roache 73). Subs not used: Tynan, Batt, Soares. Attendance: 3,383. Best Bee: Nicky Bailey.

2:38pm Thursday