Barnet's impressive unbeaten away run came to an end this season after a 2-1 defeat at neighbours Stevenage Borough. The crucial moment, coming just before half time, as with honours even, Dwane Lee saw red for 'violent conduct.'
The game looked to have swung Barnet's way after a nervous opening half hour made it look like a home goal was inevitable. To Barnet's credit though, they never gave up hope and in the closing stages Liam Hatch wasted two good chances to give the visitor's a shock lead. It wasn't to be and the task was made even harder when Lee was given his marching orders in first half stoppage time.
The second half saw Barnet continue with the three remaining midfielder players taking up more central roles. To some extent this was successful but when a potential attack developed with a midfield player going forward the holes were there to be exploited, especially when the influential Damien Batt also joined the attack.
With Barnet remaining competitive, despite the one-man disadvantage it was somewhat of a shock when the home side took the lead. There was more than an element of luck in Anthony Elding's opener as he got the faintest of touches to prod home Jon Brady's low cross.
The Bees however weren't going to lay down and get rolled over and they went straight back up the other end to level the scoring. It wasn't pretty but a mass goalmouth scramble saw the ball break to Giuliano Grazioli to poke home his 17th goal of the season.
Then the second dubious moment of the match yet again going in Stevenage's favour saw the host's awarded a penalty after Batt was adjudged to have bought down George Boyd. The referee appeared to wave play on but after a few seconds changed his mind to the disbelief of the Barnet players. If anything it looked like a foul on Batt but Dino Maamria wasn't going to complain as he sent Scott Tynan the wrong way from the spot.
Barnet were forced into two influential changes to the side that started against Tamworth. Ever present Simon King missed out due to suspension and Richard Graham was ruled out after being chopped down in the penalty area during Tamworth's 3-0 victory the previous Saturday. As expected, Batt started at right back with Ian Hendon moving across to partner Ismail Yakubu in central defence and Ben Strevens filled in on the left.
The first half the Bees just could not get going and Anthony Elding should have put the hosts ahead as early as the 3rd minute. With acres of space Elding controlled the ball but from only five yards out he placed his weak effort straight at Tynan. Tynan then made a world class save from Dannie Bulman's rasping drive as the Bees yet again failed to clear.
Further efforts from Bulman and Maamria were wasted as Barnet desperately held on. Lack of communication also almost created an embarrassing mix-up between Tynan and Yakubu while at the other end a stinging drive from Liam Hatch, Barnet's best player in the half saw Andy Woodman just scramble across to divert the ball away.
Hatch had a further effort go just wide after a storming run from defence to attack from Hendon but with Barnet looking to regroup in the dressing room matters were made worse with Lee's red card.
To Barnet's credit they were the better side for the final 30 minutes of the second half once trailing 2-1. Batt was superb down the right hand side causing 'Boro all sorts of problems and how the home side finished the game with eleven men nobody will know. The endless fouls and even an elbow in the face of Simon Clist from Maamria were left unnoticed while Elding continued to fall in the penalty box with the hope of trying to get another dubious penalty decision.
But despite the possession and the dominance especially down either flank it was the lack of clear-cut opportunities that saw Barnet denied an equalizer. Grazioli headed just over and Hatch fired straight at Woodman. Despite the one-man advantage the hosts were still extremely wary of the threat posed from Paul Fairclough's table toppers, as more often than not there was all eleven men behind the ball as Stevenage held on for maximum points.
Two defeats on the trot appears to be slightly worrying but with Carlisle unable to take full advantage by putting a run together lets remember we are still nine points clear with two home games to follow. Roll on Scarborough.
Daniel Fox
