Barnet welcomed Gareth "Donny Gaz" Needham back to Underhill with a battling 2-1 win against ten men Darlington on Saturday.

Paul Fairclough made four changes to the starting line-up from the one that suffered defeat to Chester City last time out with Lee Harrison returning in goal in place of Ross Flitney, whilst there were also starts for Nicky Nicolau on the left hand side of a midfield four, Liam Hatch in favour of Oliver Allen in attack and Joe Devera at right back in place of skipper Ian Hendon.

The game started at a frantic pace and Hatch nearly gave Barnet the lead after just 21 seconds when his header from a flicked Adam Birchall pass was well gathered by Quakers goalkeeper Sam Russell.

From the Darlington 'keepers goal kick, though, the away side were to be reduced to ten men just 46 seconds into the game when Tommy Wright appeared to elbow Simon King in the face as both men jumped for the ball.

Nicolau then went close to giving Barnet the lead as the home side used the extra man to and a gusty wind to their advantage when his in-swinging free kick from the right was tipped over his crossbar by Russell. 

And from the resulting set piece Barnet were to take the lead when King headed back across goal, following a deep Bailey corner, where Hatch won the ball once more in the air allowing Dean Sinclair to strike home from eight yards to put the Bees one up.

Barnet were now playing some free flowing football and Hatch's strike from distance was well held by Russell in the 15th minute, whilst five minutes later Neil Wainwright had Darlington's first strike on goal in a rare foray forward - Harrison easily gathering the wingers effort.

Two minutes later, however, and the away side were level and once more Barnet were to concede from a set piece.

Devera conceded a free kick on the left touchline and from Evan Horwood's in-swinging delivery, David Wheater rose unmarked to head home from 12 yards.

The remainder of the half saw little in the way of goalmouth action with both sides struggling to retain possession of the ball as the game turned into a midfield battle.

And the second period continued in much the same vein as the first as once more Barnet came out of the traps flying, although King had to be replaced at the interval by Paul Warhurst as his cheek began to swell up following the sending off incident with Wright in the first minute of the game.

In the 52nd minute Barnet were to regain the lead when Hatch rose highest in a crowded penalty area to head home a Bailey free kick from the right.

Three minutes later and Ricky Ravenhill shot well over for Darlington, whilst Sinclair did similarly for Barnet with 56 minutes gone on the clock.

Just as was the case in the opening 45 minutes, Barnet began to sit back after scoring allowing Darlington to push forward, although they were struggling to find a way through a stubborn Bees back four well marshaled by the impressive Ismail Yakubu at centre back.

David Rowson and Wheater saw efforts go over the bar from distance for Dave Penney's side in the 62nd and 65th minutes respectively, whilst two minutes later a quick break forward by Sinclair for Barnet saw him release the ball to Birchall who, in turn, found Nicolau who saw his drive from 15 yards expertly pushed away by Russell.

Bailey then saw his free kick from distance again well gathered by the Darlington goalkeeper, whilst Hatch headed over from a Cogan corner kick with ten minutes to go.

Adam Gross was then forced off with an ankle injury moments later - Hendon being introduced at right back with Devera switching sides.

The referee signalled four minutes of added time and twice Darlington came close to obtaining a point in that period.

Two minutes into stoppage time Harrison did well to tip a low Alun Armstrong drive round a post, whilst three minutes later the hosts felt hard done by when the assistant referee ruled a Wainwright goal out for offside after the former Sunderland man headed home a Rory Prendergast free kick.

Barnet, though, held on for victory and almost guaranteed League 2 football at Underhill next season as they reached a total of 49 points with six games left to play.

Attendance: 2364
Away: 369

By Jonathan Sugar