Team News Ahead of Tomorrow's Match

Tomorrow, Barnet entertain Chester City, who are currently placed 18^th in the table with 40 points from 37 matches and are 2 places and 1 point above the Bees, who have three games in hand. When Barnet travelled to Chester in December, the home side were 7th in the table but the club have been in freefall taking only 12 points since November. Of course, Barnet have also had a terrible run, only taking 4 points out of the last 8 matches. Chester are better away from home having won 7 matches on their travels this season, as against only 4 wins and 12 defeats at home. The Bees have also fared badly at home with only 5 wins and 7 defeats at Underhill this season.

Since returning to the league, Barnet have won one, drawn one and lost three times in matches between the two sides. Earlier this season, the Bees went down 3-0 at the Deva. Before that, the last meeting was towards the end of last season when after a close first half, a very poor second half performance saw Barnet leave the pitch to boos from the travelling Bees' supporters after a 2-0 defeat. Earlier in the season, at Underhill, a Dean Sinclair penalty had won the match for Barnet.

Barnet will be without Michael Leary and Jason Puncheon who are both suspended. They are both serving the last match of their bans and will be available for the visit of Lincoln City next saturday. Kenny Gillet and Adam Birchall who both missed the midweek defeat at Grimsby Town, may be fit for tomorrow's game, but Rob Beckwith is likely to be out and Lee Harrison will deputise. Barnet will be able to include their new loan signing from Watford, Jordan Parkes, who is an England Under 18 international and who has played twice for Watford in the Carling Cup this season and had a loan spell earlier this season at Brentford. He is on loan for a month but could stay longer at Barnet if required. Parkes is a full back who can play both on the right and left side of the defence.


Chester will be without influential midfield player, Richie Partridge but are hoping that Tony Grant may be fit to return after injury.

The last time that Barnet played on the 15th of March was in 2003 when the Bees drew 1-1 away at Morecambe in the Nationwide Conference. Wayne Purser scored the Bees' goal and Guy Lopez made his debut. It was also the last match with Peter Shreeves in charge as he resigned after the match, leaving Martin Allen to take over for the rest of the season.

Chester recently sacked the former Hibernian and Plymouth Argyle manager, Bobby Williamson. he has been replaced by former youth team manager, Simon Davies until the end of the season.

Now for a look at the Chester squad.

In goal is likely to be former Kidderminster keeper, John Danby. Philip Palethorpe is a former Tranmere player, who was on loan at Tamworth, earlier in the season.

In defence are former Doncaster player, Simon Marples, experienced former Leeds, Sunderland and Wolves player Paul Butler who played for MK Dons last season, former Tranmere defender Paul Linwood, utility player Laurence Wilson, former Macclesfield player, Kevin Sandwith, former Tranmere defender, James Vaughan and the experienced Sean Hessey, who has had spells at Wigan Athletic, Leeds United, Kilmarnock, Huddersfield and Blackpool. he is currently on loan with Macclesfield Town until the end of the season.

In midfield Chester have the exciting Richie Partridge who arrived from Rotherham, Tony Dinning who has played for Wigan, Wolves and Stockport County, much travelled Kevin Ellison who signed in the summer from Tranmere Rovers and is in his 2^nd spell at the club, former Everton, WBA and Manchester City player, Tony Grant who signed from Accrington Stanley, former Tottenham trainee, Mark Hughes, who signed from Oldham after atrial period last summer, having had a trial at Barnet and former WBA, Wrexham and Kidderminster player, Dean Bennett .

A number of youngsters have also been introduced to the side this season, including defenders, Kevin Roberts and Shaun Kelly and midfield players, Paul Rutherford, Glenn Rule and Andy Mitchell.

Up front are the experienced pair of former Peterborough and Lincoln striker Simon Yeo and former Blackpool and Macclesfield striker John Murphy who is in his second spell at the club, plus former Plymouth player, Nathan Lowndes and youngsters Paul McManus and Chris Holroyd.