Venue: Huish Park
Sat 28th December 2002, 3pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry, bright, occasional sunshine
Ground: Near perfect - bare in goalmouths

Att: 4,850

Referee: Mr S Habgood

Bookings:
Yeovil: None
Barnet: Midgley (75, unsporting behaviour), Pluck (79, unsporting behaviour). Red card: Naisbitt (90, professional foul)

Line up : (3-4-2-1)

		1. Chris Weale
	2. Adam Lockwood	4. Terry Skiverton	5. Colin Pluck
10. Nick Crittenden	6. Darren Way		8. Lee Johnson	24 Abdelhalim El Kholti
	20. Gavin Williams		11. Michael McIndoe
		25. Kirk Jackson

Substitutes: 14. Roy O'Brien, 16. Andy Lindegaard (84, for Williams), 18. Kim Grant (73, for Jackson), 22. Steven Collis, 26. Jimmy Aggrey (78, for Lockwood)

Barnet: 13. Danny Naisbitt, 18. Lee Pluck, 5. Greg Heald, 17. Ishmail Yakabu, 3. Lee Flynn, 7. John Doolan, 30. Ian Hendon, 4. Mark Gower, 9. Junior Agogo, 14. Neil Midgley, 10. Wayne Purser
Subs : 26. Ricky Millard, 22. Toby Oshitola (62, for Purser), 15. Frazer Toms (90, for Agogo), 25. Jason Soloman (80, for Gower), 16. Lette Baimass

Scorers: None

This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:

BARNET LOSE THE POINT

The headlines read that Barnet hung on for a point at Huish Park, that just about sums it up. Despite that achievement I doubt if any of the hundred or so travelling supporters can be enthralled by their team's performance. From the first minute to the last Barnet toiled at almost every opportunity to frustrate Yeovil's efforts to ensure they went home with a point.

Those tactics could well have backfired in the dying minutes when Yeovil substitute Lindegaard was upended by the charging Barnet keeper Naisbitt. There was no doubt about Naisbitt's impending departure, but with less than three minutes remaining the Yeovil contingent of the 4850 crowd would feel they had been robbed of a match winning opportunity. One might be cynical and suggest Naisbitt may even have made sure he was outside his box to avoid a penalty. That said, Yeovil were just as guilty, failing to provide sufficient invention throughout the full ninety minutes to break down a stubborn Barnet defence.

On the other hand the opening minutes looked more positive for Yeovil: Gavin Williams opening run struck directly at the heart of the Barnet defence. Seconds later El Kholti won the game's first corner on the left and Skiverton's ensuing header was on target but taken comfortably by Naisbitt. In the second minute Crittenden's right wing cross lead to Lee Johnson flashing a shot over the Barnet cross-bar. It was not until the ninth minute that Weale, in the Yeovil goal, got his first touch.

After ten minutes Way won a free kick just outside the Barnet box, Lee Johnson and Skiverton combined to set up McIndoe, but his right foot shot was again too high. McIndoe and El Kholti then combined on the left wing to cross for Skiverton, but Skivo's header was, this time, too high.

Skiverton's activity in the Barnet box was a significant indication of Yeovil's dominance. But it is no surprise that opportunities arise at the other end. Barnet's first real opportunity came after 26 minutes, but Crittenden was well-prepared and successfully blocked Midgley's long-range shot. In reality the Barnet strike partnership had an unenviable task. Barnet defended so deep that their the strike force were forced to backtrack to the halfway line to start their rare attacks.

In contrast to previous games Yeovil held possession for considerable periods. But today, rather than conceding possession, they were now willing to work an opening rather than losing possession from an optimistic long ball.

Just past the half hour Jackson and McIndoe worked well down the left wing to set up Way, but Barnet did well to deflect Way's shot for a corner. Barnet responded with a free kick of their own, but this was high and wide. On 39 minutes Yeovil came the closest to opening the scoring. One could sense McIndoe's excitement as Yeovil won a free kick outside the Barnet box. McIndoe's shot was of equal quality as previous efforts. However, Naisbitt managed to scramble to his left hand post and pulled off an excellent save to push Macca's shot away for a corner. That seemed to sum up the game, despite significant possession and pressure Yeovil failed to hit the back of the net. Gavin Williams' hopeful shot just before half time underlined that conclusion.

Half Time: Yeovil Town 0 Barnet 0.

The second half began where the first left off, Yeovil enjoy almost complete possession for the first five minutes. Barnet then enjoyed their best spell of the game. As Yeovil pushed forward they were fortunate not to be caught on the counter attack. Pluck and El Kholti dallied to let Agogo strike for goal but Chris Weale pulled off an excellent save to block at the foot of his left hand post. From the ensuing corner Weale again did well to block a Barnet header from close range. As the ball broke to the far post the Yeovil defence were relied when a Barnet foot stabbed the ball the wrong side of the post.

Yeovil continued in their attempts to unpick the Barnet defence but goal attempts now became more and more rare. Yeovil put together the best move of the half on 65 minutes. A pinpoint ball picked out McIndoe on the left wing. He darted in behind his full back and sent in a low cross to Jackson who volleyed well from the edge of the box. But Naisbitt again rose to the occasion and parried Jackson's shot away.

Both teams introduced their substitutes throughout the closing thirty minutes and this made the game more and more disjointed, the atmosphere was subdued until moving into added time.

As the game moved into four minutes of added time and the crowd began to disperse but the game burst into life. Lindegaard's persistence had taken him past the Barnet defence and he was always favourite to win his race with Naisbitt. Lindy took the ball past Naisbitt who brought him down before he could convert the opportunity. Johnson's free kick ricocheted around the Barnet box before Grant volleyed his shot over the bar. One was left contemplating what was Yeovil gain from Naisbitt's punishment and potential ban, the loss undoubtedly being two points.

Final Score: Yeovil Town 0 Barnet 0.

Noddy Elms

Overall match rating: 5 / 10
Performance: 5.5
Entertainment: 4.5

30 votes received.

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