 Ismail Yakubu: Mortgage Express Man of the Match |
Barnet celebrated three points at Underhill in their last League 2 game at home before Christmas as they beat Mansfield Town 2-1 on Saturday.
Manager Paul Fairclough made two changes to the starting line-up from the one that drew with Wycombe Wanderers last weekend with the suspended Liam Hatch and ineligible Adam Birchall being replaced in attack by Paul Warhurst and Magno Vieira.
It was the visitors who started the game the brighter of the two sides and they could have taken the lead after just 43 seconds when a cross by Simon Brown was flicked onto the far post by Chris Beardsley to Matthew Hamshaw who saw his right footed curling effort cannon off of a post and away to safety.
Barnet never really got started in a disappointing opening to the game for the home side and they only had an ambitious long range effort by Warhurst in the 5th minute to show for their efforts.
Mansfield continued to look the sharper and they went close again after 19 minutes when Lee Harrison was forced into making a fine one handed save at his near post following a fierce drive by Beardsley.
Barnet were struggling to retain possession, although in truth Mansfield were not creating a great deal either as both sides struggled to make an impact in the game.
It was the away side who were creating the more, however, and in the 32nd minute Harrison was again forced into making a sharp stop, this time from a powerful John Mullins header after the Bees failed to deal with a Hamshaw corner kick.
Four minutes later and the Bees created their first meaningful attack on goal when a Jason Puncheon pulled the ball back to Dean Sinclair who saw his low drive from 20 yards palmed away by Jason White in the Stags goal.
The Mansfield keeper was then called into action once more in the 40 minute when Vieira played a neat one-two with Puncheon before keeper Brown rushed quickly off of his line to block the Brazililian strikers effort with the ball spilling behind for a corner kick.
Both sides looked to be leaving the field at half time goalless but two minutes into added time Ismail Yakubu rose highest in a crowded penalty area to head home following a fine in-swinging corner by Puncheon.
The second half began with the away side again the first to mount a serious attack and they took just 40 seconds to force Harrison into a diving save, this time from a Brown effort from 15 yards.
Five minutes later and Vieira headed a Puncheon cross over the bar whilst at the other whilst Richie Barker just failed to connect to a fine Hamshaw cross.
With 54 minutes on the clock Barnet were to go 2-0 ahead courtesy of Adam Gross' first goal in a Barnet shirt.
 Adam Gross: first goal for Barnet |
In fact, it was the Bees left back who started the move when he received the ball just inside the Stags half, cleverly turning Brown to retain possession. the former Charlton man then played the ball forward to Warhurst, and having continued his run into the box, he received the ball from Warhurst's flicked past before firstly coolly past White into the keepers bottom left hand corner.
Three minuets later and Vieira saw his effort saved by White following a fine Simon King pass forward whilst Puncheon forced the Stags keeper into action once more when he connected first time at the back post following a fine cross by captain Ian Hendon.
Mansfield substitute Danny Reet then shot wide in the 74th minute whilst a minute later Barker headed wide from eight yards out.
With five minutes to go, though, Barker was to reduce his sides deficit when he rose highest in the box to head home a Hamshaw free kick.
Puncheon then saw a rasping drive go just over for Barnet in the final two minutes, whilst Nicky Bailey saw an effort well held by White moments before the Referee signalled the end of the game to send the home fans away happy.
Attendance: 1,790
Away: 198
By Jonathan Sugar
