Paul Fairclough's Barnet are through to the Fourth Round of The FA Cup after seeing off the challenge of Division One Swindon Town and now face Bristol Rovers on Saturday at Underhill. This is only the second time in the history of the club that they have reached this stage of the competition, last season and this.

After three and a half hours of football, it took a penalty shoot-out to produce a winner, a shot-out in which Swindon missed all four of their penalties. It was enough for Barnet to score twice from their three attempts with Rob Beckwith, making his home debut, saving Swindon's fourth penalty, to prompt scenes of celebration.

The victory was all the more note-worthy for the fact that for almost an hour of play the Bees were down to ten men, Michael Leary having been shown a red card when he thundered into a tackle on Swindon's Sofiene Zaaboub, causing the skillful left winger to be stretchered off.

Barnet started the match having reverting to a 4-4-2 formation, with striker Cliff Akurang, also making his home debut, being partnered in attack by the recalled Adam Birchall.

Barnet should have taken the lead when Jason Puncheon fed a ball to Max Porter in an advanced position down the right only for his perfectly delivered cross to be somehow headed wide by Akurang when it really did look easier to score.

Four minutes later, four minutes before half time, Swindon's Billy Paynter controlled a hopeful long ball, evaded the challenge of Ismail Yakubu and finished with some aplomb with a well struck shot that Beckwith had no chance with.

Barnet started the second half determined to bring the scores level and only eight minutes into the second period Paynter diverted Puncheon fiercely delivered right footed cross at the near post to level the tie. Puncheon deserved this slice of good fortune because of the sheer number of shots he had on  Peter Brezovan's goal throughout the evening.

The Leary sending off had led to a reshuffle with Birchall dropping into midfield with Akurang again playing up front on his own.

Zaaboub's replacement Christian Richards continued where his team mate had left off and made several attacking forays down the left and looked dangerous, but the Bees could justifiably argue that Puncheon provided an even greater threat. His mastery of the ball as he took the ball at the Swindon defenders was a sight to behold.

Just before extra time, with his team all around him, Paul Fairclough could be seen cajoling his team with words of encouragement, "Stay strong!" he repeated and repeated until his players believed they could.

Anthony Thomas, on as a late substitute, nearly won the tie with a strike in the last moments before the two hours were up but that was the last goal mouth incident before we moved into penalties which were taken in front of the new South Stand.

Paul Fairclough gathered together the five declared penalty takers and advised them to make their minds up early about what they were going to do and to make a good clean strike of the ball. The Bees had practised penalties the day before and their cause was helped when the visitors missed their first spot kick. Swindon never recovered from this lapse and with Beckwith saving their fourth attempt there was no way back into the tie for the Robins and the Bees now march on into round four.

A jubilant Paul Fairclough subsequently admitted that in an ideal world he would have preferred to have seen Underhill host an FA Cup tie against Premiership Fulham, but praised Bristol Rovers for successfully knocking out such high grade opponents.

He also poured scorn on those clubs who did not treat The FA Cup with respect when they field something other than their first choice line ups and suggested that in so doing they are depriving their players and supporters of nights like these.

Next up for the Bees is of course more FA Cup action this Saturday when Bristol Rovers come to Underhill on the back of knocking out Fulham.

Josh Wright, ineligible for tonight since he was not signed in time for the game at the County Ground, Swindon, is eligible for the game against Bristol Rovers since he is not cup tied and has been registered in time for the 4th round.

David Bloomfield