The Bees’ survival hopes get a buzz
GRAHAM Westley praised his “first-class” Barnet players after they kept their League Two survival hopes alive with a vital win.
Alex Nicholls grabbed the Bees’ winner midway through the second half to secure them victory over the U’s, although they remain six points adrift of safety.
Westley said: “My players were absolutely first class, from minute one to minute 94.
“They did what they needed to do and they out-run, out-fought and out-played the opponents, and got the important goal to win the game.
“The fight and desire was there for everyone to see, but the quality was there as well.
“It wasn’t a game where we won it on sheer blood and guts.
“It was a game where we put some really good passages of play and chances together, and on a different day, could have won by more than the one goal.”
Colchester are now seven points adrift of the play-off positions with 11 games remaining after slumping to a second straight defeat.
U’s head coach John McGreal said: “Barnet only had a handful of chances but they worked ever so hard and they deserved their win.
“It was a thoroughly disappointing performance, especially in front of our home fans.
“We had a couple of half-chances before half-time and we changed the system to try and be positive but it just didn’t work and they got a goal out of nothing.
“From minute one, we tried to set a bit of a tempo and it didn’t work.
“You have to give Barnet a bit of credit for what they did against us but it was a poor performance.”
Nicholls blazed a giltedged chance over from ten yards for Barnet, who enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half.
Colchester’s best efforts came just before halftime, with Brandon Comley’s excellent 25-yard strike flashing just wide and Courtney Senior denied by alert Barnet keeper George Legg.
Colchester made changes at half-time, bringing on winger Brennan Dickenson for defender Tom Eastman and switching to a 4-4-2 formation.
Mikael Mandron went close with a header for the hosts but Barnet grabbed their all-important winner through Nicholls, who controlled and fired low past goalkeeper Sam Walker from close range after John Akinde had picked him out in the area.
Colchester failed to threaten after that, as Barnet held firm.