Garry Borrowdale made his debut for Barnet at left back after being brought in on loan from QPR, whilst Northampton’s attack was spear-headed by Adebayo Akinfenwa.
It was an entertaining end to end encounter on a glorious and sunny day at Underhill, and Northampton started the brighter side, just like the sun shining above their heads. Arron Davies was given enough time and space to reach the Barnet penalty area, and his shot bounced just in front of Dean Brill who spilled the attempt, but thankfully for him, the ball went wide and not into the path of any of the onrushing Northampton attackers.
On 10 minutes however, Ricky Holmes came a whisker away from giving Barnet the lead, seeing his shot from long range dip onto the inside of the post before finally being cleared for a throw-in.
Holmes didn’t have to wait long to get his name onto the score sheet though. From a similar position to his previous attempt, the ball fell kindly to him and he produced an emphatic finish into the bottom left hand corner of the goal.
The Bees now looked on fire, and almost added a second soon after. Izale McLeod raced into the penalty area before laying the ball back to Holmes, who saw his shot blocked, before the ball ran nicely to Mark Marshall, who from a tight angle fired high and wide.
The Cobbler’s were by no means letting their confidence slip, and if it wasn’t for Dean Brill making an exceptional scooping save to prevent an Akinfenwa header, the away side would have had an equalizing goal.
Izale McLeod went into the match joint top scorer in League 2 on 7 goals, and almost added an eighth to his tally on 33 minutes. Marshall’s cross from the left was missed by every defender, and the ball fell to McLeod, who instead of smashing the ball first time with his right foot, decided to take the ball onto his left side, but the shot was saved with the legs of keeper Sam Walker, who had a successful loan spell at Underhill from Chelsea at the end of last season.
With five minutes of the half remaining, Northampton almost gift wrapped a goal to McLeod again, who pinched the ball off a defenders toe, but yet again, Walker stood tall and firm and denied the week effort.
McLeod’s chances carried on into the second half. Substitute Charlie Taylor thread the ball neatly through to the former MK Dons forward, but yet again Walker was able to block his shot, again in a one on one situation.
But all of Barnet’s efforts to notch a second goal were forgotten about as it was indeed Northampton who were able to score the matches second goal on 51 minutes. A long throw into the six yard area was helped on easily by the large framed Akinfenwa, and Aaron Davies was there at the far post with the easiest of tap-ins to draw Northampton on level terms.
Instead of now holding out for a draw, Barnet still tried to push for a second goal. A goal mouth scramble culminated in the ball falling for Charlie Taylor, who from pretty much underneath the goalposts, somehow managed to side foot the ball over the crossbar when it seemed easier to score than to miss. Underhill as seen many a Barnet miss over the years, but that one was up there with the worst of them all.
Clovis Kamdjo was running the show from midfield, with plenty of neat, short passes and flicks, but on 73 minutes he was unfortunate enough to give the ball away to Marlon Jackson, on loan from Bristol City, who went on a long diagonal run, but his end product was poor and fired the ball well wide of Brill’s post.
As the match was drawing into the final few minutes, player’s legs were beginning to tire in the heat. But out of nowhere the ball was chested down by Sam Deering who unleashed a stunning, swerving half volley, but Sam Walker was equal to the effort and caught the ball calmly and well.
Northampton weren’t going to settle for a point however, and on 89 minutes, Ben Tozer was on hand to score the winner. Akinfenwa nudged the ball back to Tozer, who was able to find a good finish, hence Northampton took all three points.
It was a cruel blow for Lawrie Sanchez and Barnet, who remain in 21st place in League 2, and face a very difficult trip to Shrewsbury Town next weekend, but not before a Johnston’s Paint Trophy tie away at Gillingham.
Man of the Match: Clovis Kamdjo
