Barnet made it four wins in a row against Bury on Saturday at a rain swept Underhill Stadium.

The Bees, who made one change to the starting line-up from the one that beat Peterborough United on Boxing Day with Anthony Charles replacing the suspended Adam Gross at left back, started the game at pace, but they were behind after just three minutes when Ismail Yakubu brought down Matthew Blinkhorn in the area and up stepped Richard Baker to successfully score from the spot to put the away side 1-0 ahead.

Barnet did not let the early goal knock them back and continued to push forward and they were level just four minutes later.

Adam Birchall got onto a long Simon King punt forward and was allowed to play the ball out to the left to Richard Graham. The left winger crossed first time where the on-rushing Nicky Bailey sent a bullet header into the back of the net from six yards.

The Bees continued to push forward and they nearly went ahead in the 13th minute when a deep corner by Jason Puncheon was met at the back post by Birchall, but the on-loan striker from Mansfield could only plant his header into the side-netting.

Barnet were by now well on top and they deservedly took the lead in the 18th minute. A short corner between Dean Sinclair and Puncheon saw the latter cross the ball into the box. Dave Challinor only headed the ball away as far as Graham, who saw his low shot from 25 yards cannon around in the penalty area before landing at the feet of Birchall who took one touch before firing the ball past Allan Fettis from five yards.

The Bees refused to take their foot off of the pedal and they continued to play some superb, slick passing football and they were close to going 3-1 up in the 21st minute when Sinclair received the ball from Birchall, but the midfielder saw his powerful drive tipped round a post by Fettis for a corner kick.

There was drama in the 26th minute when the floodlights went out but both managers, after consultation with the referee, deemed that the natural light was still bright enough to continue, much to the relief of the home crowd.

However, just three minutes after the lights went off Bury came close to equalising when a fine cross into the box by Buchanan was met by the head of Hurst, but the striker could only direct his effort wide of Ross Flifney's right hand post.

Five minutes before the interval, with the floodlights now back on, Barnet came within inches of taking a two goal lead when a corner into the box by Puncheon fell kindly to the feet of King, but the defender's spectacular scissor kick cannoned off of the bar and away to safety.

A minute before the interval Baker headed a Chris Brass cross over the bar ,but it was the Bees who were to go in at half time ahead.

The second half was played under very trying conditions with the rain teaming down but to their credit both sides continued to try and play football.

Just three minutes in and Sinclair shot wide for the Bees, following a fine pass by Barry Cogan, whilst at the other end Challinor headed wide following a deep free kick by Colin Woodthorpe.

Barnet were still looking the better of the two sides with Bailey and Sinclair instrumental in midfield and they came close to making it 3-1 in the 57th minute when Graham won the ball back on the left before playing the ball inside to Birchall who released Graham once more. The wide man continued at pace down the left win before squaring the ball to Cogan who looked to go around keeper Fettis, but from an acute angle Woodthorpe headed the ball off of the line, with the Bury goalkeeper able to claim the ball preventing a corner kick.

Hurst then shot wide for the Shakers two minutes later as the Bees looked to restrict Chris Casper's side in the final third.

With 71 minutes on the clock Sinclair headed a fine Bailey cross wide, whilst moments later at the other end Baker did similarly for Bury.

Hurst then saw his headed easily held eight minutes from time, before Bees substitute Liam Hatch, on moments earlier in place of Puncheon, shot well over a minute later.

Disaster then struck for Barnet in the 84th minute when Sinclair was shown a second yellow card and the Bees were forced to finish the game with 10 men.

Paul Fairclough immediately introduced Andy Hessenthaler in place of Birchall and the Bees fought remarkably well to prevent the Shakers from creating anything of note in the final five minutes.

In fact, it was Barnet who looked like going further ahead when in the dying seconds Hatch broke free of the Bury defence and he just got to the ball ahead of Fettis but, with the strikers effort rolling towards the net, the rain sodden pitch held up the ball allowing Challinor to clear.

The referee signalled an end to the game moments later to the delight of the Underhill faithful and the Bees left the pitch having ending 2006 on a four game winning run.

Report by Jonathan Sugar
Photography by Martin Ogden (www.martinogden.co.uk)

Attendance: 1959
Away: 182