Accrington Stanley slot four past Barnet
4:28pm Thursday 24th February 2005
Accrington Stanley 4
Barnet 1
Nationwide Conference
The fact that goalkeeper Scott Tynan was the best Barnet player on the pitch is a sobering thought.
The Bees may be top of the league, but they could have been on the end of one almighty beating on Saturday, rather than just a mighty beating.
The young keeper produced a string of fine saves to prevent the rampant hosts from running riot. As it was, even with Tynan's heroics, Stanley still ran out comfortable winners.
Ironically, Barnet did not play too badly, particularly going forward, and they created a number of good chances.
But the Accrington front men looked sharp and exploited some alarming gaps at the back with devastating effect.
For the neutral, with both sides eager to attack, this was an entertaining encounter, but the Bees will have to tighten up if they are to prevent the growing chasing pack from catching them.
And it was an error at the back that put Stanley on their way after just 12 minutes. Ismail Yakubu thwarted Lee McEvilly down the left, but, instead of finding touch, allowed the striker to nick the ball back off him and head for goal. The angle still looked too much but he fired a low shot under Tynan to give his side the lead.
Until then, Barnet had carved out the better openings. Simon King had headed a Simon Clist corner over and Liam Hatch flashed a shot across the face of the goal after a superb individual run.
Tynan had to pull off two fine saves to deny the hosts a second on the half-hour. He first tipped over a Mike Flynn header and then parried an instinctive Robbie Williams volley from the resultant corner.
Hatch was then denied at the other end by keeper Paul Crichton, after Giuliano Grazioli had cleverly left an Ian Hendon ball. Tynan then flew to his right to keep out a cracking McEvilly free-kick and Rory Prendergast headed the rebound over.
It was much the same after the break. Tynan first denied Prendergast and Stephen Jagielka, before Dean Sinclair headed a Flynn header off the line.
Barnet were hanging on, but, on 55 minutes, Prendergast was put through again and this time met the ball on the volley and steered it past Tynan.
Jagielka was again thwarted by Tynan, while Hatch saw a header tipped on to the bar by Crichton at the other end.
It was game over on 84 minutes, when Paul Mullin slotted home after Tynan had pushed out a McEvilly shot. One minute later, Jagielka saw Tynan deny him again, but this time sub Ian Craney was on hand to sweep in the rebound.
Grazioli finally struck for Barnet moments later, almost apologetically converting a Lee Roache centre, though it was hardly enough to spoil the Accrington party.
A day to forget for the Bees.
BARNET (4-4-2): Tynan; Hendon, King, Yakubu, Clist (Roache 78); Bailey, Lee, Sinclair, Graham; Grazioli, Hatch. Subs not used: Gore, Charles, Strevens, Lopez. Attendance: 1,841. Best Bee: Scott Tynan.