Sinclair: threat on the right

Two minutes later and it was the Bees this time who nearly scored the games opener when Dean Sinclair crossed from the right but Ben Strevens wanted too much time on the ball and he was closed down by the retreating Paul Scott which allowed home keeper Craig Dootson to claim the ball.

It was a frantic start to the game with both sides showing signs of nerves at the back and this was further emphasised in the Barnet ranks when in the fourth minute poor defending allowed Brian Barry-Murphy to advance forward unchallenged before squaring to his right where David Flitcrofts shot cannoned off of a post. From the resulting rebound Dwayne Mattis saw his effort cleared off of the line by Ismail Yakubu for the corner.

Joe Anyinsah then saw his 16^th minute strike sail over the bar whilst Barrry-Murphy had his long range strike two minutes later superbly blocked by Anthony Charles.

As the half progressed, both sides struggled to retain decent possession of the ball with the poor Gigg Lane surface not aiding either side's passing game.

Ross Flitney did well to hold onto a Barry-Murphy free kick in the 20^th minute whilst Anyinsah and Tresor Kandol saw efforts go wide for the Shakers and the Bees respectively.

The second half was again an even affair but one which the Bees had the greater chances on goal.

Again, though, it was the Shakers who started the half the brightest and Paul Scott saw his header from a Barry-Murphy free kick claimed by Flitney.

Jake Speight then had his effort ruled out for offside in the 54^th minute and then from the resulting Flitney free kick Dave Challinor allowed the ball to bounce in his own penalty area and Kandol flicked the ball towards goal but as Grazioli tucked the ball into the net the Assistant Referee raised his flag to chalk off the Bees striker's effort.

A minute later and Strevens saw his volley lack conviction and it was easily held by Dootson before the Bees had their second effort ruled out for offside.

Strevens: two efforts saved

Barry Fuller won the ball on the Bees right before advancing down the line and crossing low to Strevens. The former Wingate and Finchley player flicked the ball to Kandol but like his strike partner just two minutes earlier, the in-form striker saw his effort ruled out again for offside.

Bury then came close to scoring the opening goal of the game in the 58^th minute when firstly Bailey just headed over his own crossbar from a Tipton free kick and from the resulting corner Flitney did well to claim the ball under pressure from Challinor.

The Bees keeper quickly turned defence into attack and released the ball to Sinclair, who advanced forward before sending his 25-yard left footed effort inches wide of Dootson's left hand post.

Tipton then wasted a good chance for the Shakers in the 66^th minute when he found some space inside the Bees penalty area but he sliced his 15 yard effort wide.

Then three minutes later Kandol saw his header pushed away by Dootson following a fine Strevems cross from the right.

However, it was the Bees who came closest to winning the contest twice in the final moments of the game.

In the 81^st minute a Kandol cross from the right saw Strevens rise at the back post but his powerful header was saved by the legs of Dootson and then in the 83rd minutes it was rolls reversed as this time Strevens crossed for Kandol and he came even closer when his header cannoned off of Dootson's crossbar with the keeper seemingly well beaten.