Barnet went out of the Carling Cup to Watford at Underhill tonight 2-0 after extra time, but can consider themselves a little unlucky in a match that they, at least, matched their Championship opponents. Barnet produced good approach play for most of the match with left winger, Albert Jarrett prominent with a number of fine crosses. Unfortunately, most of the time there was nobody to really get on the end of them. How the Bees could have done with the injured John O'Flynn.
Barnet started the match with the same line up as at Lincoln on Saturday. Yannick Bolasie played up front with Paul Furlong who was well marshalled by the Watford defenders. Albert Adomah too found it difficult to find space and was not as influential as he can be for Barnet. However, it must be said that he did create two of the best chances of the match which brought out fine saves from the Watford keeper, one in the first half and one in the second shot, a superb swivelled shot somewhat reminiscent of Jason Puncheon's goal that knocked Colchester out of the FA Cup in 2007. The shot was too powerful for the keeper to hold and looked t be going in but drifted just wide. Early on, Yannick Bolasie broke through with a lot of space but shot a little excitedly and his powerful shot went over the bar.
In midfield, Micah Hyde and Mark Hughes gave little away and Daniel Leach again showed his promise at the back. Young right back, Ryan O'Neill played well too but Adomah seemed to miss Joe Devera's overlapping runs and at times, one felt too that Paul Furlong needed someone to get down the right hand touchline and cut it back across the goal for him.
Early in the first half of extra time, Jarrett sent over a sublime cross for Paul Furlong but he did not really get hold of it and it went straight at the keeper. Then Watford went ahead following a corner through Mike Williamson on 105 minutes. Barnet swept down field and Adomah came close again. Adomah had a great chance to equalise in the second half of extra time with the Watford keeper on the floor but shot over an empty net. In extra time, Jake Cole let a long range shot from Scott Severin go through him to finish off the game as the Hornets ran out 2-0 winners.
So disappointment for the Bees who have not won a Carling Cup match since August 2006, but the team gave a very strong performance, but they did seem rather to lack a cutting edge and Ian Hendon must be hoping for the quick return of John O'Flynn. Next up for the Bees is a difficult home fixture against Shrewsbury Town, one of the favourites for promotion from League Two.
Barnet: J Cole; O'Neill (Devera), Yakubu, Leach, Gillet; Adomah, Hughes (Charles), M. Hyde, Jarrett; Bolasie (J. Hyde), Furlong.
