Last Gasp Goal Saves Barnet's Blushes &&&.

Barnet FC Ladies 1 Gillingham LFC 1

South East Combination League

Sunday 31 October 2004

At Hanwell Town FC

Beth Curtis saved the blushes of Barnet FC Ladies on Sunday, when she was on hand to score a last minute equaliser in the Bees' home match against lowly Gillingham.Barnet trailed for 85 minutes in a match that they dominated and yet were frustrated by a combination of good defending, excellent goalkeeping and poor finishing.

Gillingham shocked the Bees by taking the lead after only four minutes play.The Barnet defence failed to clear a long ball forward with any authority and the ball fell invitingly to Kirsty Goodall.The Gillingham midfield player hit a volley with such pace and accuracy into the top right hand corner of the Barnet net that goalkeeper Jess Devoti was left powerless to intervene.

The setback shocked Barnet into immediate action. Beth Curtis took the ball around the Gillingham goalkeeper but was forced wide and her shot hit the post from an acute angle. Minutes later, Abi Naugher and Hannah Grover combined on the right hand side to enable Grover to find Curtis with a pin-point cross.The Barnet top-scorer's header seemed goal bound before Alison Smith in the Gillingham goal produced a miraculous save to push the ball around the post.

Gillingham responded with goal scoring attempts of their own. A long-range effort from Sarah Kelly was just wide; whilst Lesley Kay produced an excellent reflex save from Devoti, who kept the ball out with her feet.

The Bees' best chance of the half came after 32 minutes.Katie O'Donoghue found Kerry O'Connor in the 18-yard box, who in turn fed a short pass to Beth Curtis who was no more than eight yards from goal.However, Curtis belied her recent rich vein of goal scoring by blasting the ball over the bar.

Barnet had further chances to take the lead in the closing minutes of the first half.Up to five Bees players were involved in an incredible goalmouth scramble without being able to force the ball home.A minute later, Beth Curtis went just over with a trademark chip from 25 yards.

With Manager Tracey Kevins' half time words still ringing in their ears, Barnet set about the second half in pursuit of an early equaliser.Vicky Dodds fired a free kick over from 25 yards.Beth Curtis' persistence nearly paid off as she forced herself into a goalscoring position, but saw her shot saved at the near post.Curtis and Dodds were in the thick of the action again after 52 minutes when Dodds toe poked the ball over from 12 yards after meeting Curtis' cross from the left hand side.

Tina Keech and Donna McGuigan were introduced in an effort to change Barnet's fortunes.However, as Barnet pushed forward there was always the possibility that they would be left vulnerable to the counter attack.Indeed Jess Devoti had to be on her best form to produce an excellent save down by her right hand post to prevent the Gills from putting the match beyond the Bees' reach.

Just when the Bees' supporters had given up any hope of salvaging a point, Barnet finally scored an equaliser in second half injury time.Beth Curtis produced an excellent chip from the edge of the area to leave the Gillingham keeper beaten.Incredibly, Barnet could even has snatch all three points in the dying moments of the game as Smith produced excellent saves from Curtis, who produced another excellent chip, and Charlie Longuehaye.

There can be no disguising the fact that this was not a good performance from Barnet and rather than being a point gained from the match, it was two points dropped.The Bees must now hope that their main rivals for the single promotion spot from the South East Combination slip up in the second half of the season.

Barnet Team: Jess Devoti; Hannah Grover, Katie Wicka, Charlotte Herson, Cerrie Byrne; Abi Naugher, Charlie Longuehaye, Vicky Dodds, Katie O'Donoghue; Kerry O'Connor, Beth Curtis.

Substitutes: Tina Keech (for Kerry O'Connor 70 mins), Donna McGuigan (for Hannah Grover 77 mins), Laura Shackel (not used).

Goalscorer: Beth Curtis (90 mins).

This Sunday 7^th November, Barnet FC Ladies face another of the struggling teams in the South East Combination when they entertain Barking at Hanwell Town FC.Kick-off is at 2.00pm.

Barnet FC Ladies Reserves maintained their position at the top of the South East Combination League Table, thanks to a 3-2 away win against Cambridge United yesterday.Sophie Reed, Jo Ginger and Hayley Johnson were on target for the Bees.

South East Combination League Table

(up to and including 31 October 2004)