City must raise the Bar
27 July 2006

St Albans City 0 Barnet 3

BARNET, of Coca Cola League Two, highlighted the difference in strength, pace, fitness and speed of thought in comparison with the part-time status of the newcomers to the Nationwide Conference giving City a glimpse of the scale of Colin Lippiatt's task in the months to come.

The visitors from Underhill took command from the start with a game based upon closing down the home side in their own half, denying any opportunity to make good use of the passing game that saw promotion form the Nationwide South in May. The City defence rose to the task and withstood the early pressure, with Dave Theobald and Ben Lewis in particular producing a solid rearguard display.

Liam Hatch, wide on the Bees' left, looked the danger man in attack and he came close to opening the scoring on 15 minutes, with a fierce burst of pace, a quick check to turn and a shot from 18 yards which just curled around the outside of the far post.

The Saints' best effort of the first half came just before the half hour when Lee Flynn, Ram Marwa and Matt Hann combined to work a fine move just outside the area to create space for Marwa to fire just wide of the target.

Barnet maintained their pace throughout and were denied minutes later when, a short corner found the unmarked Ian Hendon and his fierce shot through a crowded area was spectacularly saved by Paul Bastock, returning to City colours after a ligament operation.

The opening score came minutes later when a City attack was stopped by a fierce but fair challenge on Simon Martin and the visitors broke at pace, with Richard Graham sending a finely-judged pass into the path of Hatch who coolly chipped the advancing dive of Bastock for a very well-taken goal.

Bastock was again required to show his pedigree on 43 minutes to deny Nicky Bailey but the City keeper will not relish the second Barnet goal moments before the break, when he allowed a well-struck volley from Hatch to squirm under his body.

It was a scrappy start to the second period but the visitors scored their third on 58 minutes when a patient build-up, advancing through the City half, resulted in Dean Sinclair crossing a short ball to the impressive Richard Graham, who shot firmly past the despairing dive of Bastock from close range.

The Saints enjoyed their best spell of the game around the 70-minute mark and their best chance fell to Simon Martin after Matt Hann hit an inch-perfect cross to the striker. Martin was in space but a split-second's delay allowed Bee's 'keeper Lee Harrison to block the shot and gather the ball at the second attempt. Having been a virtual spectator, Harrison was sharp to dive to push a well-struck Lee Flynn free-kick around his right-hand post and, moments later, he tipped a goal-bound header from Dave Theobald over his bar to safety.

In the closing minutes, each side squandered opportunities to add to the score-line. Ram Marwa tamely chipped a shot into the arms of Harrison after space was created by the lively Lee Clarke and, seconds from time, Barnet's star striker Giuliano Grazioli, well-policed by the City centre backs for the preceding 90 minutes, found space to send a glancing header well wide.

St Albans City: P. Bastock, C. Seeby, L. Flynn, D. Cracknell (T. Davis 71), B. Lewis (G. Elphick 71), D. Theobald, M. Hann, R. Marwa, J. Sozzo (S. Martin 33), P. Hakim (L. Clarke 71), A. Wilde. Unused subs: B. Martin, A. Ross, R. Perks.

Barnet: L. Harrison, N. Bailey (G. Boosey 46), S. King, I. Hendon, I. Yakubu, N. Nicolau, L. Hatch, D. Sinclair, G. Grazioli, A. Hessenthaler, R. Graham. Unused subs: H. Hunt, N. Brindly, T. Cornick, J. Devera.

Referee: P. Miller.

Attendance: 471.