Barnet gained their first home win of the season with a 2-0 victory over bottom club,Plymouth Argyle at Underhill on Tuesday night. Manager, Lawrie Sanchez had to make a couple of enforced changes from the side that lost to Crewe at Saturday. Key central defender, Darren Dennehy failed a fitness test and was replaced by Daniel Leach making his first start of the season after a long injury lay off, while up front, Steve Kabba who came off early at Gresty Road was replaced by Charlie Taylor. Ricky Holmes retained his place at the expense of Sam Deering. New striker, Lloyd Owusu was on the bench.
Barnet started brightly withTaylorgoing close early on with a fine shot that just went over the bar. The Bees went ahead on 7 minutes when a long Mark Byrne throw caused confusion and Izale MCLEOD headed the Bees into an early lead.
Barnet had chances to go further ahead. A fine Holmes cross flew across the Argyle penalty area and Mark Marshall could have done better than clip it wide at the far post. McLeod nearly broke through following a fine run from well outside the penalty area but lost control at the wrong moment and the chance was lost. Mark Byrne had a shot on goal saved after surging through on goal.
The Bees did not have it all their own way and Plymouth caused the Bees defence trouble but Dean Brill was a safe pair of hands in the home goal.
HT: Bees 1 Pilgrims 0
Barnet found chances hard to come by early on in the first half and the ay side had a lot of possession but failed to cause the Bees defence too many problems. McLeod came close to scoring after being put through by a superb pass by Daniel Leach. Soon after, the Bees’ Australian defender put the bees further ahead. Mark Byrne hooked a dangerous ball into the Argyle defence and when they failed to clear, LEACH scored with a shot that was deflected.
Barnet almost gave a goal away soon after and Argyle had several chances to score before Clovis Kamdjo blocked a shot and the ball was cleared. Leach almost caused a calamity when he played a dreadful pass back to Brill who did well to clear the ball away for a corner under pressure when it could easily have become an own goal.
The visitors continued to press and cause the home defence problems but their final ball and finishing was very poor. Barnet looked to increase their lead on the counter attack and Ricky Holmes caused problems on the right hand side of the midfield putting in some dangerous crosses. Charlie Taylor, who was having probably his best game for the club, went close with a fine shot on the run that just went wide.
In the end, the Bees ran out for a deserved win and three vital points against a very poor Plymouth side who look in dreadful danger of the drop even this early on. The win takes the bees up to 19th place in the table. Next up:Oxford United at Underhill on Saturday.
Mention has to be made of the wonderful Plymouth fans who never stopped chanting and supporting their side and were a credit to their club and an example for fans everywhere.
Barnet Man of the Match: Daniel Leach
FT: Bees 2 Pilgrims 0
Barnet: Brill; Senda, Leach, Kamdjo, Parkes; Holmes, Hughes, Byrne, Marshall (Deering 87) Holmes; Taylor (Owusu 88), McLeod.
Subs not used: O’Brien, Cox, Uddin.
Att: 1849