Barnet won their first home game of the season courtesy of a powerful header by skipper Ismail Yakubu against a dogged and determined Accrington Stanley outfit. The Bees had taken the lead after only 29 seconds through a poacher's goal from John O'Flynn, his first for the club, but Stanley then had much of the ball in the first half and equalised on the stroke of half time.

The Barnet boss Paul Fairclough had kept faith with the team that won at Grimsby Town last week, meaning that Nicky Deverdics and Adam Birchall only made the subs bench, but their introduction in the second half was to coincide with an upturn in the Bee's fortunes.

From the kick off Albert Adomah attacked down the right, defenders falling away like skittles, his cross was delivered with pin point accuracy for O'Flynn to head home from close range. It was the classic combination of a winger and a striker; the execution was perfect.

Taking such an early lead Barnet were in somewhat of a quandary as to whether to keep pressing or to let Stanley bring the game to them and hope to catch them on the break. The task for Stanley was simple; they needed to get back in the game since they had gone behind in barely a blink of the eye.

Accrington did have more than a fair share of the ball in the first forty five minutes although it needs to be said that Lee Harrison was not called upon to perform heroics. And just when it looked as if the Bees would have a half time advantage to chew over during the interval Stanley equalised when the centre back Colin Murdock attacked the space at the near post from a corner and headed firmly home.

Post match the Stanley manager John Coleman admitted that during the second half Barnet had not allowed his team so much of a say in the proceedings. The introduction of Birchall (for Cliff Akurang) and Deverdics (for Michael Leary) was critical. Birchall with the enthusiasm and Deverdics with his guile enabled Barnet to compose a more coherent line of attack.

In the 73rd minute Adomah, with a run at the visitors defence, this time through the middle, and aided by Birchall saw the winger with the ball at his feet some ten yards from goal. He was felled by a crude challenge by Robbie Williams, a penalty for the Bees and a red card for the substitute centre back.

O'Flynn took the kick, and although he felt he had made a good connection with the ball, Kenny Arthur was equal to the task as he pushed the ball wide for a corner.

From the resulting inswinger by Nicky Nicolau, Yakubu won an aerial contest with the keeper and headed the ball into the net. The Bees were now ahead and that elusive first home win of the season was now tantalisingly making an appearance on the horizon. After going behind for a second time Stanley huffed and puffed, but they never really looked likely to draw level for a second time.

Not a sparking performance was Paul Fairclough honest verdict, but he added that he felt his side had displayed sufficient quantities of the ingredients needed to win this football match and could justifiably claim to have been deserving of the three points. Apart from those with a leaning towards the Lancashire outfit there would likely be few dissenters to this view.

Next on the agenda is a local derby fixture on Friday night against high flying Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road.

David Bloomfield.