Busy B's halt unbeaten run

Barnet Away

The game started quietly with Chester having the disadvantage of playing up the hill in the first half. They had slightly the better of the opening exchanges, but midway through the half Barnet started taking the game to City with Dean Sinclair beating the offside trap twice. On the second occasion he was fouled inside the area and scoring the only goal of the half from the penalty spot.

A double substitution and change of shape for City at half time couldn't turn things around and Barnet took control of the second half from the kick-off. A missed penalty denied them the chance to extend their lead and though Chester did come back into it, any hopes of a late goal were thwarted by the dismissal of Roberto Martinez for a second bookable offence.

Chester really should have taken the lead in the 7th minute when Blundell played an excellent ball across goal from the left hand side towards Walters. It looked as though Walters only had to make contact with the ball to score but bizarrely he failed to make contact with the ball and it drifted out the right hand side of the goal area.

Chester were settling in nicely but Barnet soon started getting into the game themselves and began pushing forwards. The best chances though continued to fall to City and and Martinez had an opportunity on 18 minutes from a free kick, which was punched clear by Flitney at full stretch.

Barnet immediately broke clear though and had their first real chance of the game with Dean Sinclair racing down the centre of the field outpacing the City defence. He unleashed a shot from about 20 yards out forcing a diving punched clearance from Danby putting the ball behind for a corner which came to nothing.

In a similar move, Sinclair broke clear again in the 28th minute and was brought down inside the box by Kevin Sandwith. Sinclair took the spot kick himself and slotted the ball home confidently.

It was Barnet in control by now and it wasn't until the 38th minute that Chester had another chance, winning a corner. Martinez played it into the area but it was headed clear by Ismail Yakubu and away to safety.

An off the ball incident tool place involving Barnet keeper Flitney and Gregg Blundell shortly before the break, resulting in yellow cards for both players. Chester had a free kick from the restart, Kevin Sandwith electing to aim straight for goal in the right hand channel forcing a low save from Flitney.

Chester were looking for an equaliser and Dean Bennett came close only moments later with a great shot from the left hand side. Once again though Flitney made a great save at full stretch.

City made two substitutions at half time. Phil Bolland replaced Stephen Vaughan and Paul Linwood replaced Dave Artell, changing from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 to add more width to midfield.

It was Barnet who came closer to extending their lead though in the 55th minute with a great diagonal shot from Andy Hessenthaler across the face of goal, only just drifting wide of the left hand post.

Barnet were still in control with Chester reduced to chances from set pieces. On 63 minutes another Martinez free kick was played into the goalmouth area from the right hand channel but it was too close to the goalkeeper and Flitney rose to collect it without difficulty.

A controversial penalty decision took place in the 68th minute with Marples judged to have fouled. The referee was quickly surrounded by furious Chester players convicned that no infringement took place. Justice was done though; Nicky Bailey took the spot kick and played it more or less straight at goal, allowing Danby to block. At the other end Chester could have snatched an equaliser courtesy of a Jon Walters header but it was just over.

City were slowly getting back into the game and Jon Walters again was just narrowly wide right with a header in from the left hand channel. Barnet weren't finished though and a Nicky Bailey shot from 20 yards out needed a deflection to keep it away from goal.

With time running out, City had another set piece on 83 minutes. Simon Marples played a good cross through the goal area and Phil Bolland met it with a header. He couldn't find the target though and the ball went out for a goal kick.

It was disaster for City on 85 minutes though with Martinez picking up a harsh yellow card on 85 for a fairly innocuous challenge. Two yellows equals red though and just at it looked as though Chester could rescue something from the game this was the final nail in the coffin.

Five minutes of added time followed but City were dead and buried and go away empty handed from Underhill.

Barnet: Flitney, Bailey, King, Sinclair, Kandol, Yakubu, Hessenthaler, Devera, Nicolau, Puncheon, Vieira. Subs: Gross, Warhurst, Cogan, Graham, Jaimez-Ruiz.

Chester City: Danby, Marples, Sandwith, Westwood, Artell, Vaughan, Bennett, Martinez, Wilson, Walters, Blundell. Subs: Bolland, Hessey, Linwood, Holroyd, Palethorpe.