CLASSIC ENCOUNTER: Barnet v Rochdale 1994/95

Last Updated : 05-Nov-2008 by

On Saturday, Barnet and Rochdale meet in the 1st round of the FA Cup. It is the first time that these two clubs have met in the competition. However, the two clubs have met regularly in the league since Barnet first won promotion to the league in 1991.

One of the most impressive performances for Barnet came in September 1994. Barnet had been relegated to the bottom division (then division 3) and were looking to make a solid start to the season. Barnet were placed 5th with 13 points from 6 matches and Rochdale were 4th ahead on goal difference. Second from bottom in the table were Wigan Athletic, now a Premiership club. Fulham were 10th.

Barnet manager, Ray Clemence remarked in his programme notes that the Bees would be in for a 'very testing ninety minutes'. It did turn out quite a bit differently!!

Barnet went ahead as early as the 13th minute when Dougie Freedman, who had joined in the summer from QPR, failed to control a Carl Hoddle pass but the Rochdale keeper, Chris Clarke hit his clearance at Freedman who was then able to score easily. Three minutes later, Hoddle's pass cleared the Rochdale defence to find Freedman again who fired into top corner to make it 2-0.

The Bees then made it 3-0 when Mark Cooper headed home a David McDonald cross. Rochdale rallied and Shaun Reid scored from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after Tim Alexander had fouled Rochdale striker, Steve Whitehall. However, five minutes before half time Barnet went 4-1 up when another Carl Hoddle pass set up Dougie Freedman for his hat trick.

HT 4-1

Rochdale substitute, Paul Williams pulled a goal back for Rochdale in the 55th minute, but soon afterwards, another Hoddle pass found Lee Hodges who set up Freedman for his fourth goal and Barnet's fifth. In the final minute, Dougie Freedman set up defender, Shaun Gale with a back heel for Barnet's sixth.

FT 6-2

Barnet: Phillips, McDonald, Gale, Hoddle, Alexander, Primus, Tomlinson (Haynes), Freedman, Hodges, Cooper (Scott), Wilson.

Rochdale: Clarke, Thackery, Formby, Reid, Matthews, Butler, Thompson, Peake (Hall), Rimmer (Williams), Whitehall, Doyle.