BEES STING MAGPIES AMID A RAFT OF CARDS

TWO second-half goals helped Barnet to a third win from four National League matches after this rather bad-tempered affair which featured nine yellow cards.

Adam Marriott and Reece Grego-Cox had put the Bees the ascendancy before Shaun McCoulsky halved the deficit on the stroke of full-time.

And McClousky came within a whisker of clinching a stoppage-time leveller but somehow blasted his effort over the woodwork from just a few yards out.

“I’m still [mulling over it],” said Magpies boss Alan Devonshire. “It was a strange game, the conditions weren’t great, and the pitch was bobbly. We should have got a draw today. I’m gutted.”

GregoCox gave early notice of his intent with a rasping effort which rattled the crossbar inside the opening five minutes.

Marriott was next to go close, on 14 minutes, only to be denied by the assistant referee’s flag.

Slowly, Maidenhead worked their way back in the game with McCoulsky posing the biggest threat. He powered his way past his marker and struck the ball hard and low, testing the reflexes of Barnet keeper Jake Askew.

At the other end, Wes Fonguck stung the palms of Harry Palmer as both keeper held out to the break.

Maidenhead full-back George Wells took matters into his own hands after the restart and thundered upfield before rifling a shot up and over the bar.

McCoulsky the squandered Maidenhead’s best chance just before the hour on linking up with Ryan Upward, only to be denied a certain goal by Askew.

However, in a flash, the ball was in the back of the net down the other end – Marriott rounding off a good move which also involved Ephron Mason-Clark and Fonguck, squeezing the past past Palmer.

Devonshire responded by turning to his bench on 69 minute, bringing on Josh Kelly and Remy Clerima for the booked Nathan Blissett and Adams.

But it couldn’t stop Barnet doubling their advantage in the 78th minute thanks to Grego-Cox applying the finishing touch to Jamie Turley and Mason-Clark’s slick passing.

Maidenhead, to their credit, kept plugging away and got their reward just under 10 minutes later – following the booking of Turley – McCoulsky had got his goal.

Wells’ set piece was fierce and only able to be pushed to the side by Askew where Kelly was waiting to square the ball back across the area into the Magpies’ number 20 who made no mistake.

In the dying embers, he had favourable opportunities to ensure his side took something from the game, but ultimately, they just left the field with the feeling of disbelief as Barnet completed the job.