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Giuliano Grazioli and Ben Strevens both netted second half goals to allow Barnet to steal all three points at The Shay.
Halifax led at half time but the Bees pulled off a classic sting to stay on course for the play-offs.
Halifax dominated a first half played at break neck speed.
They could have led as early as the tenth minute when a quick free-kick from assistant manager and full back Sean McAuley allowed the impressive Ryan Mallon to fire in a cross, but Christian Lee's shot was off target.
The Shaymen were playing exhibition football at times spraying balls the length and breadth of the park and stringing together intricate but deadly passing moves.
But it was from a goalmouth scramble the breakthrough finally came.
A McAuley free-kick 20 yards from goal was saved by Bees keeper Shane Gore but he could only parry to the edge of the six-yard box, where Lewis Killeen was first to react blasting home.
But it was not all flare and finesse. For the second game in a row Halifax were involved in a mass brawl. On Boxing Day against Scarborough they had two players ordered off, but this time only Lee picked up a caution.
It was all change after the break as Barnet returned to the field a different team.
And quickly they levelled. Strevens burst clear on the right and slid a clever ball into Grazioli, who deftly chipped the ball over keeper Mark Cartwright for his 12th goal of the season.
Ten minutes later the Bees were in front. Captain Ian Hendon blasted a fierce 30-yard thunderbolt straight at Cartwright ,but he couldn't hold it.
Barnet then sat back and protected their lead frustrating Halifax right up until the final whistle.
Deep into injury time Val Owen's 20-yard volley could have tested a nervous looking Gore, but it was tantalisingly off target.
Halifax manager Chris Wilder said he thought his side threw the game away after an excellent first-half performance.
"The difference between the sides is that we had eight or nine good chances and scored once and they had two and scored them both," he said.
Nationwide Conference, Friday 26th December 2003 @ 15:00; Kingfield Stadium
A dramatic equaliser from Raphael Nade saw Woking snatch a point in the final moments when Barnet looked to have inflicted what would of been only the hosts second league defeat of the season at Kingfield. The former Welling United striker capitalised on a mistake by Danny Maddix to send the home fans home happy. Neil Smith gave Woking an early lead but Ben Strevens fired in an equaliser - the first of two excellent goals from the lively striker. Steve Ferguson came close to giving Woking the lead but it was the visitors who went in front after taking a grip in the second half. Giuliano Grazioli did his job brilliantly by holding the ball up for Strevens who had a touch, before picking his spot with a fine low effort across Woking keeper Ashley Bayes and into the bottom corner. The Bees were certainly on top as the second half unfolded and had no doubt responded to a talking to from boss Martin Allen at half time. Bees substitute Anthony McNamee caused the home team a host of problems with his deep runs down the left and he and Strevens were the pick of the bunch going forward as far as Barnet were concerned. Barnet looked to have wrapped up what would of been their seventh victory on the road this season, but Glenn Cockerill's Woking side have shown a lot of character this season and never gave up a loss cause. It was deep into stoppage time when former Arsenal midfielder Ian Selley swung over a corner from the left in dreadful conditions. Maddix headed back towards his own goal and there was Nade to flick home a header in what was virtually the last act of the game. "Any neutral fans coming to the game would have enjoyed that," said Barnet boss Allen. "I'm upset we gave away such a late goal but I was more than happy with our performance." Nationwide Conference, Saturday 20th December 2003 @ 15:00; Underhill Stadium Farnborough eased their relegation worries by beating a makeshift Barnet side 2-0 in a scrappy game at Underhill. Martin Allen's Barnet side were missing three key players going into the game with 19-goal topscorer Guiliano Grazioli and club captain Ian Hendon suspended, as well as Simon King. Farnborough by contrast were virtually at full strength with only defender Matthew Beall missing and then they capitalised on defensive mistakes to score through Nick Burton and Ryan Semple. Barnet were playing on the sloping Underhill pitch for the first time in five weeks and neither side looked at home, making silly mistakes in blustery conditions. As early as the third minute Boro goalkeeper Mark Osborn ballooned his clearance to Barnet's Tony Scully, but he could only manage a weak effort on goal. Later Barnet looked to have a definite penalty when Mark Williams was brought down by Osborn while through on goal. Eight minutes from half time, Barnet again looked certain to score when after a goalmouth scramble the ball broke to Scully, but his shot was blocked on the line. These chances were to cost Barnet dearly as Farnborough took the lead just four minutes later. Richard Hodgson took a dangerous free kick 25 yards out on the left and picked out captain Burton, who powered his header into the net. Farnborough reduced Barnet to a handful of chances in the second half. Williams should have scored straight after the interval after being put through by Ismail Yakubu, but his shot was well saved by the outstanding Osborn. striker Liam Hatch also managed two speculative efforts on target late in the game, but should have passed to players in better positions on both occasions. Minutes from the end, Farnborough killed off the game when Semple won the ball after tussling with Geoff Pitcher in the penalty area. After taking one more touch, Semple launched a cracking shot into the top right-hand corner of the net. Nationwide Conference, Saturday 4th January 2003 @ 15:00; Underhill Doncaster Rovers kept up their Nationwide Conference title hopes with a 2-1 win at Barnet. It was the experienced Doncaster side who opened the scoring from Chris Beech's cross. It was controlled by Paul Barnes and rolled into the path of Jamie Paterson, who curled the ball with his left foot around Bees keeper Daniel Naisbitt. Barnet's Junior Agogo had been limping since the start of the game and it was no surprise when he was substituted by Toby Oshitola in the 19th minute, as the visitors midfield were in control of the game and Paterson was creating space on the right wing. After 18 minutes Rovers doubled their lead when Barnes flicked a header to Robert Gill, who drew goalkeeper Naisbitt from the goal and hit a left-foot shot low into the corner. It was all Doncaster and Barnet were struggling to make an impact on the game. They did have a few attempts. Neil Midgley hit a right-foot volley just wide and Ismail Yakubu and Wayne Purser combined to give Mark Gower an opportunity to shoot from 25 yards. Gower again had a left-foot shot turned for a corner by defender Tim Ryan, it was the first corner of the game and 30 minutes had been played. Just before half time Midgley tried a speculative 35-yarder that was saved by Andy Warrington and Purser and John Doolan both attempted shots at goal. In the second half Doncaster decided to play deeper and this gave an opportunity to put pressure on the defence. Gower hit a right-foot cross which Greg Heald headed over the bar from 12 yards. And moments later Barnet deserved their goal. A right-foot free-kick from 35 yards by Gower was met by on-loan defender Ian Hendon, who headed into the net from seven yards. It was all Barnet in the closing stages, with Doolan and Gower outstanding in midfield, but the visitors defence held firm to take the points. Nationwide Conference, Saturday 28th December 2002 @ 15:00; Huish Park Leaders Yeovil suffered another setback in their title quest when they followed up Boxing DayÂ’s defeat at Forrest Green with a home draw. Barnet came to defend and they did it well .Although Yeovil rained in 15 shots goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt was well protected by his defence in which loan signing Ian Hendon from Sheffield Wednesday was the star. Naisbitt made one crucial save in the 40th minute when he touched a 25-yard free-kick from Michael McIndoe around a post and he saved his side at the expense of a red card in second-half stoppage time. Sub Andy Lindegaard broke clear and seemed certain to score for Yeovil when the keeper brought him down outside the area. "I have no complaints, it was all he could do," said Barnet manager Peter Shreeves. The visitors paraded the LeagueÂ’s top scorer Junior Agogo and he had the only two chances Barnet created. They came early in the second half and he wasted them both. Yeovil forced 11 corners as they sought the elusive goal and Darren Way shot over midway through the second half when he might have scored. Although the Somerset team are the leading scorers in EnglandÂ’s top five divisions they are struggling for goals at the moment. New signing Kirk Jackson is still looking to settle in with his new colleagues and boss Gary Johnson revealed after the match that Carl Alford, who was the most expensive signing in non-league football, had left the club by mutual consent. Johnson commented: "It was a very frustrating afternoon for us. I was disappointed that Barnet went into a shell. They have good footballers and it could have been much more entertaining." |