Kandol Signs Off With Hat Trick!!!!!

Barnet and Rochdale met at Underhill in November 2006, when both teams were struggling in the bottom half of the table. However, the Bees' fortunes had, in fact, taken a recent turn for the better. The team had fallen to 22^nd in the table following the away defeat at Darlington in late October and were only out of the relegation zone on goal difference. A Dean Sinclair penalty gave Barnet a 1-0 win at home to Chester at the end of October, followed by a stunning away win at Hartlepool, Barry Cogan scoring the only goal. The week before the Rochdale game, a Dean Sinclair goal and two from Tresor Kandol had been enough to dispose of plucky Gainsborough Trinity in the first round of the FA Cup.

So Barnet had reason to be optimistic about their chances of three points against the Dale. However, it was Rochdale that struck first, in the 22^nd minute, following a sloppily misplaced pass from Ismail Yakabu, which led to Rochdale breaking clear and the ball was crossed over to the far post where striker, Chris Dagnall was able to head the ball into the path of Darrell Clarke who slid the ball comfortably past Lee Harrison from close range.

Barnet pushed forward, looking for the equaliser and they were rewarded six minutes from half time when Nicky Bailey played a sublime through ball for Tresor Kandol to run on to and stroke the ball past Rochdale 'keeper, Gilks from the edge of the penalty area to tie the game up at half time 1-1.

Barnet came out confidently in the second half and it took them only four minutes to go in front, Kandol scoring again. This time the goal resulted from a long punt up field by Lee Harrison which evaded the Rochdale defence and Kandol was able to head over the advancing Gilks from the edge of the penalty area after the Rochdale keeper had rushed out of his goal. The goal was followed again by the now customary Kandol summersaults!!

Barnet's lead only lasted 10 minutes and they paid the price for some casual play, allowing Rochdale back into the game when a long cross from the left evaded the Barnet defenders and was headed across Harrison into the far corner of the net by Glenn Murray. Barnet pushed on to try and get their third consecutive league win but it looked like they would have to settle for a point until deep into stoppage time, when Andy Hessenthaler crossed for Kandol to head home for his hat trick and Barnet's winner.

Kandol's hat trick made him leading scorer in League 2 with 13 goals and with three wins in succession things looked bright for the Bees with Kandol's goals set to be an important part of Barnet's push towards the top half of the table or maybe even the play offs. However, a few days later came the news that Kandol had gone to Leeds United on loan with a view to signing for the West Yorkshire club, which, of course, he did the following January. Many Barnet fans were disappointed with Kandol's departure but at least he signed off in style!!!

Teams:

Barnet: Harrison; Hendon, King, Yakubu, Nicolau; Cogan (Hatch 72), Bailey, Hessenthaler, Puncheon (Warhurst 90), Sinclair; Kandol.

Subs not used: Flitney, Graham, Veira.

Scorers: Kandol 39, 49, 90

Rochdale: Gilks; Jackson, Stanton, Sharp, Goodall; Brown, Jones, Clarke (Cooksey 63), Sako; Murray (Rundle 87), Dagnall.

Subs not used: McArdle, Ramsden, Rigby.

Scorers: Clarke 22 Murray 59

Att: 1972