FLEET SHOOT DOWN SHOTS
NATIONAL LEAGUE MATCH ACTION STARTS
MARTIN Allen blasted Chesterfield for being ‘bland, average and boring’ as his former club sent him reeling to a third successive National League defeat.
The five-time former Barnet manager rolled the roulette wheel by adding to Chesterfield’s attacking threat in the closing minutes, only to be undone by a superb 90th-minute strike by substitute Jack Taylor.
There was still time for added frustration for the Spireites as Zavon Hines had an equaliser chalked off for a foul on goalkeeper Mark Cousins in added time.
Allen admitted: “We were lacking in energy, passion, desire and will to win. It was the right result. I put players on to try to win the game and we got into some good areas but that wasn’t good enough for us.
“We were bland, average and boring. I want to see my team play with passion and flair.”
Taylor’s winning strike was pure quality but out of keeping with much of what went before.
He found a yard of space to turn and shoot right-footed into the roof of the net from 25 yards.
That was the only way past Spireites goalkeeper Callum Burton, rightly described as ‘outstanding’ on his debut.
His instinctive saves from substitute Shaquile Coulthirst and Daniel Sweeney in the last quarter were warning signs of what was to come.
Chesterfield went close on several occasions in the opening 45 minutes but disappointed thereafter. Sweeney scrapped off the line from substitute Gozie Ugwu in the 71st minute as heavy pressure failed to prise open a well drilled defence.
Sweeney was outstanding throughout, setting the right example by making several early clearances and seeing his personal display only blighted by a yellow card after, for once, he was pick pocketed by Hines.
Barnet were worthy of reward for their resilience, allied to swift second-half breaks usually featuring the quick feet of David Tuton and Wesley Fonguck.
Both goalkeepers made fine tip-over saves in the first half with Burton thwarting an artful shot by Charlee Adams in the 11th minute before Mark Cousins came to Barnet’s rescue when Robbie Weir let fly from 20 yards.
Defenders Laurence Maguire and Michael Nelson went tantalisingly close with far-post headers and Kyel Reid’s enterprise on the left went close to being rewarded. First he pulled a left-footer wide, then smashed a venomous snap shot inches over.
Chesterfield attacked strongly in the early stages after the break but had to wait until the hour for midfielder Curtis Weston to test Cousins with a hooked shot.
Barnet fired a warning as Jack Barham turned inside the box to shoot wide after fine work by David Tuton.
It was Tuton’s quick thinking that launched another Barnet break and, with William Evans backing off, substitute Coulthirst was denied by Burton’s outstretched foot.
How much Burton knew about his next vital stop from Sweeney’s close-range effort only he could tell, but he was in the right place at the right time.
Barnet boss John Still, whom Allen described as his mentor in midweek, said: “Today we found the element that was been missing from our game – hard work.
“We were struggling with injuries and a couple played who were not 100 per cent.
“The fact that we won was brilliant. Everyone has done what we expect to do off the ball.”