Other reports : Nationwide Conference website; BBC Sport; www.ytfc.net; unofficial BFC website; official BFC website;
Venue: Huish Park
Sat 28th December 2002, 3pm kick-off.
Conditions: Dry, bright, occasional sunshine
Ground: Near perfect - bare in goalmouths
Nationwide Conference :
Yeovil Town 0 - 0 Barnet
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)
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 1. Chris Weale |
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 2. Adam Lockwood |
 4. Terry Skiverton |
 5. Colin Pluck |
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 10. Nick Crittenden |
 6. Darren Way |
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 8. Lee Johnson |
 24 Abdelhalim El Kholti |
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 20. Gavin Williams |
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 11. Michael McIndoe |
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 25. Kirk Jackson |
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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
Internet Man of the Match Voting Result:
Player |
MOTM |
Score |
Colin Pluck |
13 |
587 |
Darren Way |
9 |
427 |
Chris Weale |
4 |
260 |
Abdelhalim El Kholti |
1 |
133 |
Terry Skiverton |
1 |
87 |
Nick Crittenden |
1 |
87 |
Adam Lockwood |
- |
80 |
Michael McIndoe |
- |
47 |
Lee Johnson |
1 |
40 |
|
Overall match rating: 5 / 10
Performance: 5.5
Entertainment: 4.5
30 votes received.
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