A well organised and drilled Chesterfield outfit, with a goal in each half, put paid to any hopes that Barnet had of ending 2007 on a high note.
In his last game for the Bees, before departing for Peterborough United, Liam Hatch was made captain and at the end of the match a large banner wishing the hard working and popular forward a fond farewell was unfurled.
The only change to the Bees line up was where Joe O'Cearuill returning from suspension replaced the suspended Ismail Yakubu in the centre of defence with Max Porter continuing at right back and with Joe Devera operating as a central defender.
Hatch was keen the make an impression from the very first and this showed when an astute chested pass into the path of Adam Birchall after only 2 minutes was only to be denied by an off side flag. On ten minutes he had a good chance to convert a Nicky Nicolau cross but this was the classic case of where the player has too much time and the chance was wasted.
Chesterfield took the lead in the 21st minute when Neal Bishop uncharacteristically failed to control a loose ball enabling Steve Fletcher and Jack Lester to combine to allow Adam Rooney, cousin of Wayne, an opportunity that he did not spurn as he steered the ball past Lee Harrison.
The Barnet players did not really have their shooting boots on today as many efforts were just off target, as Ashley Carew's late strike from distance, or as in one case an effort from Jason Puncheon was sufficiently off target to go for a throw in.
Chesterfield's Hungarian centre back Janos Kovacs was a rock on which many Barnet attacks floundered and he gave indication that he was no slouch at the other end of the pitch when his headed effort on the half hour from a corner was cleared off the line by Nicky Nicolau.
Puncheon managed Barnet's first strike on goal on target just before half time with a typical mazy run and well struck shot, but on this occasion the Spireites keeper Barry Roche was unflustered.
Chesterfield, once one goal to the good, were content to let Barnet construct attacks, confident that when they broke down they would be well positioned to mount a counter attack. From one such attack Gregor Robertson hit the side netting when well positioned.
Trickery from Bishop took him into the penalty area early in the second period but his effort sailed narrowly wide of it's target and from that moment, as the clock ticked down, the task became harder and harder.
With ten minutes remaining Harrison did not hold the ball from a corner and Kovacs was on hand to lash the ball into the back of the net and although Barnet kept pushing and seeking a goal Chesterfield held firm, carved out subsequent opportunities for themselves and can count themselves worthy winners.
Next up for the Bees is a relatively local fixture in an away match at Wycombe Wanderers. Barnet will be without the now departed Hatch, but available will be new 6'2'' striker Cliff Akurang who boss Paul Fairclough is confident will add something different to the team as he spoke glowingly after the match of his ability to control the ball and involve the midfield in the play.
David Bloomfield
