ALLEN’S BEES MAKE A POINT
MARTIN ALLEN was content to see Barnet share the spoils with Colchester after an improved second-half display.
Curtis Weston’s 82nd-minute equaliser salvaged the Bees a point at The Hive after the U’s had led for much of the game through Tarique Fosu’s early opener.
Barnet manager Allen said: “When you don’t play well and you get a point, it’s a good point.
“In the first half, although we didn’t play very well we still had three or four very good opportunities where we could have taken the lead.
“I thought they played very well in the first half and deserved to be 1-0 up.
“Having said that and having seen some of the reviews already, we had numerous chances to score ourselves.
“In the second half, it was much more positive and we played higher up the pitch, got closer to them and stopped them playing.
“The changes that we made, made a big difference.”
Colchester head coach John McGreal admitted it was a game of two halves for his side, who had controlled the opening 45 minutes.
McGreal said: “We’d have loved to have taken all three points but before the match, a point away from home would have been really good to take.
“In the first half we played well and we were looking to go again but in the second half, Barnet were the better team.
“When they equalised, they then started playing again and had more opportunities to score but we take the point. It was a tough game and the boys have had a few bumps and bruises.
“But I thought we played some excellent stuff in the first half, which we didn’t continue in the second half and that’s something we can improve on.”
Colchester took a sixthminute lead through Reading loanee Fosu, who drilled a low shot home after Drey Wright had picked him out on the edge of the area.
Sammie Szmodics’ shot flashed inches wide for the visitors seconds later but at the other end, only Brennan Dickenson’s crucial intervention prevented Shaun Batt from bagging what looked like a certain equaliser. Batt then squandered an even better chance just before halftime when he headed substitute Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s precise cross over from four yards.
Vickers made a fine diving save to push away Wright’s fine curled effort in the opening stages of the second half, following a swift U’s break.
But Luke Gambin’s effort was headed off his own goalline by Colchester skipper Luke Prosser, as Barnet pressed for an equaliser.
The Bees finally levelled with eight minutes remaining through Weston, who converted from close range from Michael Nelson’s assist to secure the hosts a deserved
point.