Tresor Kandol's header ten minutes from time rewarded the Bees with a vital three points against Play-Off chasing Darlington.

Barnet Manager Paul Fairclough made one change to the side that drew with Peterborough last weekend - the fit-again Kandol replacing Liam Hatch in the Bees attack.

Simon King once again played in a five man midfield as the Bees stuck to a 4-5-1 formation.

In a scrappy opening to the game, it was the away side that had the first chance of the contest when a Ryan Valentine strike after four minutes, from all of 25 yards, was well held by Ross Flitney in the Bees goal.

The Quakers were having the greater possession in the opening period as Barnet struggled to retain the ball but after 16 minutes, somewhat against the run of play, Kandol headed home a Hessenthaler cross but the former Darlington player had his effort ruled out for offside.

Neil Wainwright then saw two efforts go wide as the Darlington looked to stamp their authority on the match.

After 30 minutes Andy Cooke had a good chance to break the deadlock but his header, from a Valentine cross, went wide.  At the other end, Kandol also had a good chance to score the game's opening goal but his header, although on target, failed to trouble visiting keeper Sam Russell.

Dwane Lee saw his opportunist strike held from all of 25 yards held by Russell as both sides failed to break the deadlock in the first half.

After the interval it was Barnet who played the more attacking football and they could have taken the lead just two minutes after the break but Sinclair was denied following a fine tackle by Valentine.

Liam Hatch was introduced from the substitute's bench shortly into the second period and his introduction brought a change in formation as the Bees reverted to a two man attack.

Hatch's presence immediately caused the Quakers defence some discomfort when his presence earned the Bees a free kick on the half way line and from the resulting set piece by Bailey, Kandol's header was well held by Russell in the Quakers' goal.

Jonjo Dickman and Taiwo Atienco then wasted good chances for Darlington on the hour but just eight minutes later the Bees had the best chance of the game.

A fine low ball by Bailey found Hatch, who out muscled Matt Clarke in the Darlington defence, before he cut the ball back to Sinclair but from 10 yards the former Norwich midfielder could only send his low drive wide.

Barnet were really starting to dominate and in the 71st minute they were denied what appeared to be a clear penalty. A fine flicked header by Bailey found the on-rushing Sinclair who brought the ball down in the Darlington penalty area before appearing to have his shirt pulled. 

The referee appeared to be the only man in the ground who thought that the Bees didn't deserve the penalty and away Manager David Hodgson looked as shocked as anyone when he saw the official wave away the Bees man's protests.

Flitney was then lucky to only receive a yellow card when he pushed Johnson to the ground as the game started to reach its climax.

Cooke then had his weak header saved by the Bees keeper following a fine Jamal Johnson cross in the 76th minute and that miss was to prove costly as Kandol was to score the game's decisive goal just four minutes later.

Bailey won the ball on the Barnet right and his volleyed cross into the box was expertly headed home by Kandol from six yards to send Underhill into a state of euphoria.

Five minutes later and Hatch could have doubled the Bees lead when his superbly hit 25 yard volley brought out a fine diving save by Russell in the Darlington goal.

If the crowd thought the Quakers keeper deserved all the plaudits, what was to following just two minutes later diverted all the praise to his opposite number when Ross Flitney pulled off a triple save of the highest quality.

There looked to be no danger when Johnson picked up the ball on the left touchline but his fierce effort from 25 yards was pushed away by Flitney, who then jumped straight up to push away Atieno's following up effort before Flitney reacted once more to push Akpo Sodje's effort away for a corner.

Kandol then had a further strike held by Russell but the referee signaled an end to the contest after four minutes of injury time to reward the Bees with the three points. Flitney the saviour after a lucky red card escape... Kandol back to haunt his old club. "It's a funny old game" - Jimmy Greaves, I agree.

Jonathan Sugar