By Jeff Benge
Nationwide Conference
Saturday 9th October 2004
K.O. 12.30pm
Barnet 5 Dagenham & Redbridge 0
Goals: Barnet: Hendon 2, 76(pen)
Strevens 6
Roache 69
Bailey 73
With Guiliano Grazioli still out, Barnet made just one change from the side that beat Exeter City 3-0 in midweek, skipper Ian Hendon replacing Damien Batt at full back.
Barnet got off to an amazing start when a loping run by Ian Hendon ended with a shot into the left corner of the goal, which seemed to go through keeper, Tony Roberts’ hands.
Four minutes later and Barnet were 2-0 up. A superb cross from the left by Richie Graham was headed home by Ben Strevens. Soon after, Liam Hatch fell awkwardly and had to be carried off on a stretcher. A sad sight for Bees fans.
Lee Roache came on to replace him. Shortly after, Roache had a great chance to make it 3-0 when he was one on one with Roberts, but hit his shot straight at the Dag & Red keeper. Nicky Bailey was unlucky too when he appeared to be brought down in the penalty area, but the referee waved play on.
At the other end, Barnet’s central pair of Simon King and Ishmail Yakubu was keeping a very tight rein on Dagenham’s high scoring strike partnership of Craig Mackail-Smith and Chris Moore, who were barely getting a look in. King, in particular, was magnificent.
Half-Time 2-0
Yakubu did not come out for the second half, having received a knock and was replaced by Damien Batt who slotted in at right back, with Ian Hendon moving over to partner Simon King in the centre.
Dagenham pushed up more at the second half and started to create some chances, Moore broke through but his shot was well saved by Scott Tynan with his legs. Mickail-Smith then forced a scrambled shot home, but it was disallowed for offside.
Dagenham were leaving gaps at the back and Roache was causing trouble with his speed and eventually he broke clear following an excellent ball up the wing by Ian Hendon, Roache kept his call and slotted his shot firmly past Roberts to make it 3-0, effectively finishing the match.
Four minutes later, Nicky Bailey made it 4-0 with a wonderful 20-yard curling shot straight into the top right hand corner of the net. Three minutes later, ex-bee, Lee Flynn was adjudged to have brought down Dean Sinclair in the penalty area. The decision seemed rather harsh, but Ian Hendon stepped up to rifle the penalty home into Roberts’ top left hand corner to finish the scoring.
Another fine performance from the Bees with just about everyone playing well, Graham, Hendon, Bailey and King particularly outstanding.
Man of the Match: Simon King.
Teams:
Barnet: Tynan, Hendon, Yakubu (Batt 46), King, Clist, Bailey, Sinclair, Lee, Graham, Hatch (Roache 13), Strevens.
Subs not used: Millard, Lopez, Maddix.
Dag & Red: Roberts, Foster, Flynn, Cole, Vickers, Bruce, Janney, Uddin, Southam, Moore, Mackail-Smith.
Subs not used: Bussey, Leberi, Blackett, Boot, Hill.