Barnet defeated Darlington 3-1 at Underhill this afternoon to progress through to the 2nd round of the FA Cup. Barnet manager, Ian Hendon was forced to play left back, Ahmed Deen at right back with both Joe Devera and Ryan O’Neill out through injury, while John O’Flynn returned to the starting eleven in place of Jake Hyde.
The two sides had met each other in the league a fortnight ago and the Bees had been flattered by the 3-0 win. Darlington started brightly and as early as the 3rd minute, Ismail Yakubu was booked after hauling back Darlington striker, James Collins who looked to be through on goal and soon after, defender, matt Plummer had a good chance to score but headed wide from a corner. Darlington then had former MK Dons midfield player, Gary Smith booked for a foul on Mark Hughes.
Paul Furlong then had a good chance for Barnet but his header from a fine Kenny Gillet cross went wide. However in the 18th minute the home side took the lead. John O’FLYNN was played in by Paul Furlong and he hit his shot home into the far corner to put Barnet 1-0 up.
Soon after, O’Flynn played a ball down to Albert Adomah on the right and his cross found Furlong whose header brought a good save by Liversedge. However, Barnet failed to really impose their play on the away side and Darlington were allowed to come back into the game though they rarely really threatened Jake Cole in the Barnet goal.
HT: Bees 1 Quakers 0
Barnet got of to a cracking start in the second half and went further ahead after just two minutes after the restart. Mark Hughes put over a superb cross for Furlong and the ball was eventually bundled home by Bees’ skipper Micah HYDE for his first goal for the club.
Soon after, an excellent cross by Adomah was headed just wide by Yannick Bolasie. However, the visitors had a chance to pull a goal back shortly afterwards when midfield player, Jeff Smith bit a shot over the bar when well placed.
Shortly after this, Darlington brought off Jeff Smith and Convery and replaced them with Mor Diop and Josh Gray. Yannick Bolasie almost made it 3-0 when he broke down the left and outstripped the defence but his shot flew across the face of goal and went wide.
Just before the hour, Darlington were unlucky not to pull a goal back when James Collins, who looked dangerous throughout the match, hit a fierce shot from close range only to see Jake Cole bring off a magnificent save to keep the score at 2-0. Not long after and Cole had to make another fine save, this time from Simon Thomas, but on 65 minutes, Barnet went 3-0 up after Ahmed Deen sent over a delicious cross for John O’FLYNN to head across and past Liversedge into the back of the net for his second goal of the game The two goals made it 7 goals from just 11 starts so far this season for the Irishman.
Before the game restarted, Clovis Kamdjo replaced Ismail Yakubu for the Bees who looked certain now to go comfortably through to the next round of the FA Cup. However, Darlington now had their best spell of the game and the home side were perhaps guilty of a bit of complacency as they allowed the Quakers to give the home fans a few scares. A few minutes later, Cole had to make an absolutely brilliant save to deny Simon Thomas whose curving shot seemed to be heading for the far corner until Cole made a superb one handed save.
On 72 minutes, Darlington did pull a goal back through substitute, Mor Diop who fired home from close range to make the score 3-1 to the Bees. Both sides had chances to score after that and John O’Flynn was unlucky not to complete his hat trick, but in the end, the Bees came safely through the game to go into tomorrow’s second round draw.
All in all, a fairly comfortable win for the Bees against a side who, apart from their front two of Collins and Thomas, looked very poor and often showed why they are at the bottom of the League Two table. Whatever the outcome of tomorrow’s draw, it is likely that Barnet will have a difficult game on their hands in the next round.
Barnet Mad, Bees’ Man of the Match: John O’Flynn.
Barnet: Cole; Deen, Breen, Yakubu (Kamdjo 67), Gillet; Adomah (Jarrett 72), M Hyde, Hughes, Bolasie (Deverdics 88); Furlong, O’Flynn.
Darlington: Liversedge; Plummer, Foster, Barnes, Barnett; J Smith( Diop 53), G Smith, Convery (Gray 53), Davis; Collins (Main 87), Thomas.
Attendance: 1654
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