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PAST TIMES: Bradford City

Last updated : 14 September 2009 By Jaybee
Barnet have played Bradford City six times in the league and have won 2 game, drawn 2 and lost 2, scoring 12 goals and conceding 10. The first two matches were both played in the old 2nd division (now League One) back in 1993-94. City came to Underhill in November 1993 and won 2-1 with goals from Lee Duxbury and ex-bee, Paul Showler. Shaun Close scored for Barnet. In the return at Valley Parade, in May, with Barnet already relegated, Bradford completed the double over the Bees with another 2-1 win, with goals from Graeme Tomlinson and Des Hamilton. Tony Dolby scored for Barnet. Hamilton, of course, is the player who signed for Barnet in 2004, but never actually played for the Bees.

The next time that the two clubs met was last September with Bradford City, having been up to the Premiership, now down in the bottom tie of the league. Barnet won their first game of the season with a 2-1 win. Barnet went ahead in the first half through an Eddie Johnson own goal. The same player then scored at the other end to make the score 1-1, but a fabulous Jason Puncheon free kick won the game for the Bees late in the game. The goal ended up as Barnet's goal of the season. The Barnet team was, Harrison; Devera, Burton, Yakubu, Gillet; Carew, Wright, Porter, Puncheon; Birchall, Thomas.

In the return in April, the two sides drew 1-1 with Barnet going ahead in the first half through Adam Birchall after he cleverly beat two defenders to the ball after it had crashed back from the crossbar following a terrific shot from Anthony Thomas. Birchall then beat the keeper with a finely placed shot. Eddie Johnson equalised with a near post header from a corner late in the game.

Last season, the Bees gained a fine 3-3 draw at Valley Parade in the league. Barry Conlon put City ahead in the 10th minute, but 10 minutes later, John O'Flynn equalised for the Bees from close range. Peter Thorne put the home side back ahead in the 29th minute, but three minutes later O'Flynn set up Albert Adomah whose shot was saved only for Nicky Nicolau to follow up to make it 2-2. Soon after, Conlon scored his second for City to make the score 3-2 to the Bantams, which remained the score at half time.

In the second half, Barnet were much the better side but had to wait until 15 minutes from the end before Adam Birchall's effort was cleared only to Adomah who bundled home Barnet's equaliser. The Barnet side was; Harrison; Devera, Yakubu, Townsend, Gillet; Adomah, Leary, Bishop, Porter (Birchall), Nicolau (Medley); O'Flynn.

In the return fixture at Underhill, Barnet won 4-1 with the Barnet goals coming from Albert Adomah, John O'Flynn, Yannick Bolasie and Joe Devera. Michael Boulding scored for the Bantams. For a more detailed look at this match see the Classic Encounter feature on the Barnet Mad website.