Allen’s wet swipe at referee
BARNET manager Martin Allen was not a happy man after this match was abandoned at the break with his side leading.
Allen must have thought the Bees were set for a first away win of the season after striker John Akinde volleyed in Ben Tomlinson’s knock-down after just 23 seconds.
Barnet midfielder Curtis Weston also hit the bar shortly afterwards but hosts Newport County did recover well from their dreadful start and were on top at the end of the first half.
Darren Jones hit the bar while Jack Compton and Sean Rigg went close, and new signing Reece Grego-Cox impressed on the right wing.
But as heavy rain continued to fall throughout the match parts of the pitch became unplayable and referee Graham Salisbury had no option but to abandon the match at the break.
Allen didn’t see it that way, however.
He said: “I don’t think it should have been called off. There were only three patches of water on one side that were smaller than the paddling pool I’ve got in my garden for the dog.
“I thought we should have given it another 20 minutes at least to see how it went, especially for the paying public and the Barnet fans who had travelled down.
“We were 1-0 up after a great start by the team and a good finish by John and who knows what would have happened?
“But we have to respect the decision and move on.” Newport manager Warren Feeney agreed with the referee’s decision, but he too was disappointed as he felt his side had the upper hand going into the second half.
“I’m not happy because we had all the momentum,” said Feeney, who is still waiting for a first home win since March.
“We made a bad start but we quickly got a foothold in the game.
“But I can understand the referee’s decision.
“A few times we would have been through but the ball got caught under the lads’ feet in the water.
“The players’ safety is what is most important.”