by Barnet vs Darlington Endsleigh League Division 3 Sat 30th Sep 1995
======================================================================
Although the standard of football was poor during this game I must congratulate
Darlington on their willingness to attack in numbers which made this a far more
entertaining game than might otherwise have been the case. Barnet gave home
debuts to loan players Mark Stimson and Lee Charles and a full debut to youth
team winger Matthew Brady. The side was also missing Linvoy Primus a huge blow.
For the first hour of this game Barnet were quite appalling and couldn't have
complained if Darlington had repeated last years trick of being three up by
half time.
The first twenty minutes were pretty uneventful but the Barnet defence
proceeded to have a real nightmare twenty minutes - being very lucky that
Taylor in goal was able to stop Darlington players who had been played clear by
bad back passes. In between times a hopeful punt up the pitch had totally
fooled Jamie Campbell in for Linvoy Primus and Gary Bannister who escaped from
the attentions of Glen Thomas to crash an unstopable shot past Taylor from
close range. All this came moments after Cambpell had let another Darlington
player stroll past him (and I mean STROLL) before striking the foot of the post
with just Taylor to beat. Barnet centre backs have had a few dodgy moments in
the bast (anyone out there remember Darren Angell or Bill Baldry) but I think
it is safe to say that Jamie Campbell would rather they cut twenty minutes from
the video of this game.
Despite their general uninspired play Barnet did create a couple of chances in
the ten minutes before half time. First of all a neat bit of skill from
Charles allowed him to roll the ball into the path of Alex Dyer who managed
to do a good imitation of a conversion.
Then a lovely reverse path from Brady allowed Dyer to get in a good crossing
position. For once the cross found the unmarked Alan Pardew at the far post,
but the ex Charlton player put a very poor header wide.
The first 15 minutes of the second half were dominated by Darlington but this
time they failed to create chances. Lee Charles came very close with a lob
lunging in to reach the ball before the keeper on the edge of the box. Un
fortunately the ball fell nicely for a Darlington player to head over the bar
just before it entered the net.
I am starting to believe that Clemence should be replaced - one of my main
criticisms has been his lack of substitutions, but for once he brought Terry
Robbins on with 30 minutes left. With Mark Cooper missing Barnet must have the
smallest attack in the division so they had done little other than to wack high
balls forward, meat and drink for the Darlington defence.
Robbins made an immediate impact bringing an element of control to Barnet's
play, the ball being moved on the ground with short precise passes. Matt Brady
had looked very isolated up until that point but with Robbins he found an ally
who made him self available and their short tidy inter changes began to cause
the Darlington defence a number of problems.
Barnet finally equalised with 11 minutes left, Charles setting up Dyer who
mishit his shot badly, the ball screwing accross the goal to Terry Robbin who
was waiting to pounce at the far post. He rolled the ball home and Barnet were
level.
It would have been an injustice if Barnet had won this game, yet they nearly
snatched the points a minute from time when Charles volley produced a superb
save from Horne in the Darlington goal.
Barnet did play well for the last half hour and with Primus, Cooper, Tomlinson
and Hodges to return things might yet look up.
Barnet : Taylor, Gale, Stimson, Pardew, Campbell (Robbins), Thomas, Scott,
Wilson (Mills), Dyer, Charles, Brady
--
They say the king is watching his back again
They say the king is losing his grip again
Raging like a bull to an empty ring
D'you think they will forgive a hero anything ? Gazpacho, Afraid of Sunlight
Cheers,
Ian P.