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Match Report: Barnet 2–0 Crewe Alexandra (Barnet Fan’s Perspective)

Still unbeaten in 2012, with four wins on the bounce, victory against Crewe Alexandra last weekend was made all the more easier by the dismissal of two of the Alex’s players in the first half. Had it been 11 v 11 it could have been a very different game against a decent side pushing for the play-offs.

It was the visitors who started the better of the two, straight out of the traps, keeping possession well and creating a number of chances. Byron Moore came close to scoring in the opening 15 minutes, hitting a shot wide into the side netting – the away fans believed they were a goal to the good. More excellent play on the wing led to a second chance minutes later – Moore this time with the delivery, but Greg Pearson missed the target.

It’s fair to say the Railwaymen should have been winning, completely dominating the game in all areas. However, the Bees had a decent chance before the half hour – in form Ricky Holmes crossing in a dangerous ball, without any kind of end product. And it was the home side that were to take the lead on the half hour mark. Sam Deering with a volleyed through ball to Izale McLeod, who was brought down in the penalty box. A red card for Crewe’s David Artell, who could have little complaints, being the last man. McLeod duly stepped up and scored his sixteenth League goal of the season from the spot.

Crewe continued to try and play possession football, creating chances to get back into the game; their chances came to an end though, with a second dismissal just before half time. Adam Dugdale the offender, a rash challenge on Ricky Holmes. From where I was sat, a yellow would have sufficed, but after watching back on various replays, the challenge looks worse every time, and a red was probably justified – studs showing.

It’s fair to say the sendings off affected Alex, and the second half was all about the home side, trying to make the two man advantage count and increase the deficit. New loan signing Obita came on for the final 35 minutes and soon proved he could replace the provisionally-suspended, Mark Marshall – with tricks and pace in abundance. The second and final goal of the game was scored with just over 10 minutes to play: another delightful cross from Holmes, and a goal for Reading loanee Michael Hector, capping off an excellent performance. He had been playing in an unfamiliar role as right back, but got forward at every opportunity.

Not the best of performances from the Bees, obviously helped by a number of refereeing decisions. On reflection the Alex can’t have too many complaints about the sendings off, and were, for proportions of the game, the better side.

Attendance: 2,263 (away: 336)

Starting line-ups:

Barnet: Brill; Hector, Dennehy, Downing, Saville; Deering, Hughes, Kamdjo, Byrne; Holmes, McLeod.

Crewe Alexandra: Phillips; Tootle, Davis, Artell, Dugdale; Westwood, Murphy, Lowry, Moore; Powell, Pearson