Dramatic Comeback Seals points for Bees ………

Barnet FC Ladies 3 - Sophtlogic WFC 2

South East Combination League

At Hanwell Town FC

Sunday 3rd October 2004

Barnet FC Ladies staged a dramatic second half comeback to beat SouthEast Combination promotion rivals Sophtlogic and keep the pressure on league leaders Northampton Town.A goal early in the second period from Kerry O'Connor and a brace of spectacular efforts from the in-form Beth Curtis enabled the Bees to overturn a 0-2 half time deficit.

The match started well for Barnet, when in the very first minute young winger Donna McGuigan found space in front of the visitors' goal but could only shot wide.However, it was Sophtlogic who took the lead in only the fifth minute, Michelle Allum heading in at the far post after meeting Sue Osborne's cross from the right wing.

The Bees tried hard to force their way back to parity.Kerry O'Connor was played in on goal only to be thwarted by a last ditch tackle.After 22 minutes, Danielle Richards fired over after meeting a cross from fellow midfield player Charlie Longuehaye.Five minutes later Beth Curtis forced herself into a shooting position after a jinking run took her past three defenders, however her curling shot from 18 yards went narrowly over the cross bar.

Disaster struck for the Bees on the stroke of half time, when Osborne headed in from close range for Sophtlogic.At two nil down it looked as though Barnet had a mountain to climb if they were to gain anything from this important match.

With Manager Tracey Kevins' half time team talk ringing in their ears, and with debutante Tina Keech introduced as a substitute for Danielle Richards, Barnet began the second period in determined mood and scored the early goal they needed after only nine minutes play.

Kerry O'Connor, who worked really hard throughout the match, latched on to a defensive splitting ball from her striking partner Beth Curtis and coolly slipped the ball past the advancing goalkeeper and into the Sophtlogic net.

Barnet continued to pour forward in search of an equaliser.Beth Curtis forced an excellent save from Scott in the visitors' goal before she produced a breathtaking goal to level the scores after 59 minutes.Curtis struck a shot of blistering power from 20 yards into the top right hand corner of the net.It was Curtis's sixth goal of the season and the Bees did not have to wait long for the seventh, which almost matched the previous effort for quality.

After 67 minutes, superb work on the right hand side from Tina Keech enabled her to find Curtis 12 yards from goal.Curtis struck the ball on the turn to leave the goalkeeper with no chance of making a save and thus completing an excellent comeback for the Bees.

Curtis had a chance to complete a memorable hat trick, but her 73rd minute free kick from 25 yards grazed the Sophtlogic crossbar.The visitors' placed the Barnet defence under pressure in the closing minutes of the match as they searched for an equaliser.However, the Bees rearguard remained resolute and Barnet were able to record a memorable win, their sixth in seven league matches so far this season.

Barnet Team: Jess Devoti; Hannah Grover, Charlotte Herson, Katie Wicka, Cerrie Byrne; Danielle Richards, Charlie Longuehaye, Hayley Johnson, Donna McGuigan; Kerry O'Connor, Beth Curtis.

Substitutes: Tina Keech (for Danielle Richards 45 mins); Vicky Dodds (for Hayley Johnson 60 mins); Laura Shackel (for Donna McGuigan 60 mins); Katie O'Donoghue (not used).

Goalscorers: Kerry O'Connor (54 mins), Beth Curtis (59 mins and 67 mins)