Barnet 2 Stevenage Borough 1

Last updated : 02 January 2005 By Footymad Previewer
Barnet secured the local bragging rights thanks to a late goal from Ismail Yakubu to condemn Stevenage Borough to a 2-1 defeat.

It was Boro who were the quickest out of the blocks with leading marksman Anthony Elding and Dino Maamria having two big chances to open the scoring.

Elding's first chance came after only three minutes when he was unlucky to see his header fall over the crossbar from only ten yards out. Maamria then saw his diving header easily collected by Scott Tynan.

Barnet resorted to long ball tactics which until the 33rd minute were well dealt with by Boro's defensive pairing of Jason Goodliffe and Robert Quinn.

Giuliano Grazioli then gave the Bees the lead somewhat against the run off play.

Simon Clist's hopeful long ball was latched on to by Grazioli and with his outstretched foot was able to flick the ball past keeper Andy Woodman for his 18th goal of the season.

Boro began the second half with the same vigour with which they had started the first and they earned their equaliser when substitute Brian Quailey powered his way into the box before crossing for Simon Weatherstone to slide the ball in on 49 minutes.

Grazioli nearly added a second when his shot found at the back of the net only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

The disallowed goal count was levelled up after Quailey was denied a goal when the referee brought play back for a Stevenage free-kick when surely he would have been better to have played the advantage.

Boro were then denied a penalty when Elding was pulled down on the edge of the box by Tynan.

If Stevenage were feeling bitter, then things got worse three minutes from time when Yakubu converted Nick Bailey's corner for his third goal of the season and secured Barnet's 18th league win of the campiagn.