Bees halt the buzz over Kev’s era
BARNET strengthened their position in the National League’s top three by inflicting the first home defeat of the Kevin Phillips era at Hartlepool.
Pools were made to pay for a poor first-half performance by a Bees team determined not to return to the capital with anything other than maximum points.
Gatlin O’Donkor opened the scoring in the 12th minute by stroking in a lovely finish inside Joel Dixon’s bottom-right corner after he had been left in far too much space.
And the striker’s third goal since arriving on loan from Oxford United was followed by a curling Anthony Hartigan free-kick from near the touchline that flew straight in the top corner a minute before the break.
Barnet never looked back after that and preserved their advantage to stay eight points above fourth place, despite Hartlepool pulling one back in the last minute with a Nicky Featherstone header.
Delighted Bees boss Dean Brennan said: “To bounce back after the other night (a 2-0 home defeat) against Chesterfield is fantastic. We deserved the victory.
“That is three free-kicks from Anthony now. He is a terrific player who has been a colossus for us this season. It was a fantastic goal and he deserves it.
“The result is the most important thing for us at this stage. All in all, (with) the way the injuries have been, and for us to pick up points is great.
“I’m disappointed to concede at the end because we deserved to win by two clear goals. But I know how hard it is to come up here.”
There was far less satisfaction from Brennan’s opposite number, however.
This was Phillips’ second defeat in a row, having revived Hartlepool hopes with a five-match unbeaten run before backto-back defeats.
The club’s top scorer Mani Dieseruvwe went close a couple of times after the restart with headers but otherwise there were few opportunities for the home side.
When Featherstone headed in Terrell Agyemang’s cross last-minute cross, it raised slight hope of a recovery from Hartlepool – it never arrived.
Pools head coach Phillips said: “We have lost a match at home, two in a row now.
There’s no shame in losing to a good team, who are joint second in the league, they have good players.
“But I am disappointed with the manner of the defeat. We had to react and we lost a game softly.
“I felt we gave them too much respect. I was expecting a reaction and we didn’t get near them. It’s extremely disappointing.
“I feel like we gifted them the goals. I feel we have conceded two soft goals and we haven’t really created much.
“It took us until the last 20 minutes to get going, and why is that? The first five games of my tenure here we have been at it.” STAR MAN: Anthony Hartigan (Barnet) ATT: 4,769 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Aaron Bannister