BEES STUNG BY A ‘SOFT CALL’
GRAHAM Westley says only a dodgy penalty decision came between Barnet and the scalp of another League Two big gun in Accrington Stanley.
Bottom-of-the-table Bees may have only won once in 11 but have shocked Luton and Notts County this term and went in front in the first half through Alex Nicholls.
But Billy Kee’s second-half penalty, awarded for Dan Sweeney’s push on Jimmy Dunne, preserved a point for Stanley.
Westley said: “We deserved to go in front but they went on to earn what can only be described as a soft penalty.
“I always look at it and try to be objective and dispassionate but it was a very, very soft decision in my opinion.
“We reacted to that in a very positive way and had several chances between then and the end to win it.
“When you play a side that’s second, it’s always going to be tough and we did make a real go of it.”
The first shot on target brought the opening goal and the Bees led on 19 minutes.
John Akinde bullied Mark Hughes to win a crucial knockdown and Mauro Vilhete followed up, slipping in Nicholls who cooly slotted into the bottom left.
David Tutonda came close five minutes later, wriggling free of his marker to test Aaron Chapman with a firm header.
The visitors couldn’t capitalise on first-half territory but created chances in initial second-half incursions, Liam Nolan drawing a save from Craig Ross on the volley.
John Coleman’s side threatened again on the hour as Clark neatly combined with Billy Kee only to drag his shot straight at Ross, Jackson unable to turn home the rebound.
Barnet had shut Stanley out only once in their previous seven meetings and they were breached on 68 minutes.
The returning Dan Sweeney shoved Janoi Donacien in the back with a cross coming over to concede a penalty that Kee dispatched emphatically down the middle.
Either side could have won it late on, Clark within inches of nodding home Sousa’s delivery, while Akinde twice came close to a clincher on the counter.
First he was denied by Jimmy Dunne’s goal-saving block before his looping header dropped just wide of the righthand post.
A slow start prevented Stanley from sealing a fifth straight win for the first time in the EFL.
Coleman said: “That could turn out to be a good point in the end.
“We didn’t start the best and didn’t heed the warning of the early long balls over the top.
“We were far better in the second half, we battered them for half-an-hour. They’re fighting for their lives and are very direct, but I don’t think anyone could complain about that result. It was a fair reflection of the game.”