Match report of this afternoon's home win in the clash against Halifax Town
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Barnet were crowned champions of the Nationwide Conference and sealed a return to the Football League after an absence of four years, in front of almost 4,000 jubilant fans at Underhill.
Halifax, however, had clearly not read the Bees' celebration party script, as with only a point needed to secure promotion, Barnet went behind to Halifax striker Lewis Killeen's strike after 11 minutes.
Halifax were reduced to ten men just after the hour when John Grant received a straight red card for appearing to elbow Simon King.
The Bees however were stung into action and were level ten minutes before the break through Ben Strevens.
Simon King stretched the Barnet lead three minutes after the restart with a diving header, and the game was effectively over when the prolific Giuliano Grazioli buried his 28th goal of a very productive season.
Halifax in desperate need of points to ensure their own play-off spot had no intention of lying down to die. Their football was gutsy and determined, and the Yorkshire side may feel they deserved something from the game.
With their first attack of the game the visitors took the lead. Bees defender King was unable to make a routine clearance, allowing the alert Ryan Sugden a shot. Scott Tynan the Bees keeper saved low down, but he was powerless to stop Killeen following up into an empty net.
Barnet were unruffled and moved level through Strevens after a neat Grazioli lay-off and a strong mazy run from Dean Sinclair.
King scored the Bees' second of the afternoon, atoning for his early error, after some excellent approach play from Liam Hatch.
The party atmosphere was further enhanced when hitman Grazioli converted Hatch's cross from the right after some relentless Bees pressure.
"We're on our way to the football league," sung the Barnet faithful.
The Bees certainly are. |
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