Barnet 1 Scarborough 0

Nationwide League Division Three

by Simon Bowden

On a weekend of FA Cup semi-finals, US Masters golf, Five Nations rugby, Grand Prix racing and the Grand National, you'll forgive me if this Division Three basement battle does not live long in the memory.

In fact the best action of the first half took place after the referee had blown his whistle for the break as the press box emptied to secure prime position in the player's lounge for the big race from Aintree.

Five minutes before that Udo Onwere almost lifted the gloom when he struck a free kick off former Tottenham hero Tony Parkes' crossbar.

That said, Barnet bossed most of the half, indeed most of the match, although they lacked the invention and guile to unlock a dogged Scarborough back five.

Manager John Still blamed this on Scarborough changing their usual wing-back system so that when Barnet pumped balls into the corners of the pitch they found full-backs and not the anticipated wide open spaces.

With the half time break spent changing their approach, Barnet improved in the second period, although the ball was given away far too often for them to be able to build up a head of steam.

Two minutes after the break, Steve Brodie missed the second of his great chances to put Scarborough ahead when he was put clear only to scuff a shot straight at Lee Harrison who saved with his feet.

A minute later he was made to rue his frugality in front of goal when Onwere slipped a precise ball into Marlon King's feet who took two touches before bending a shot past Parkes, off the far post and into the net.

It was just reward for King, who had worked hard for his opening, and will help take his mind off the neck ache he surely suffered as a result of watching so many passes sail over his head.

Sam Stockley should then have extended the home side's lead, and opened his own account for the club, when he took the last of a rare four-pass move in his stride only to drill his effort wide of Parkes' near post.

There was still time for Brodie to outdo his own profligacy when he shanked a volley wide of the target after Mark Arber's sliced clearance had found him unmarked and 12 yards from goal.

The three points ensured Barnet cannot be relegated and sent Scarborough to the bottom of the Football League.

None of the Barnet players could even look forward to collecting the pot from the team's Grand National sweepstake -- there wasn't one organised this year. A point that underlined a feeling that an injection of gay abandon could be in order, both on and off the pitch.

BARNET: Harrison, Stockley, Hackett, Onwere, Heald, Arber, Searle, Currie, King, McGleish, Wilson. Subs not used: Doolan, Barnes, Sawyers.

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