Imps Scalp Barnet With Number Two

Chris Sutton again won this one well ahead of his troops entering the heavy uphill battle at Barnet on a pitch reminiscent of the Somme. Barnet played their part utilising the high ground first half to launch the downhill charges with the Imps soaking up the pressure with dutiful Delroy Facing the four gang almost single handedly. There were three goal mouth scrambles, two world class saves from Burch, but it would be a Barnet casualty that would change the game. As full back Kenny Gillet received treatment a trademark Sutton coached counter ripped apart the Barnet to defence to leave young whippet Cian Hughton clear on goal. The youngster finished with aplomb with his second in successive games. Another fantastic save from Burch insured the Imps went in one to the good with Sutton raising a smile at the whistle.

With the Imps now playing down the slope the Chessman slyly castled as Uwezu came on for Gilmour and the Imps set out their second half stall. More 4-3-3 than the 4-5-1 from the first half he allowed young Herd, a midfield musketeer, to have a freer reign. The game opened up for both sides with Barnet putting us under immense pressure without the cutting edge. It was end to end stuff with O`Flynne heading over and Anderson hammering a free kick a foot wide. Then in a moment two events appeared to turn the game. Hero Hughton was denied one on one by an outstanding save from Cole in the home goal. The action swung to the other end leading to a free kick deep inside Imp territory. A well marshalled Imps defensive unit were beaten for once having thrown themselves bravely in front of everything so far. The ball was pumped in and Ismail Yakubu rose superbly above all and sundry to power home an equaliser.

But these young Imps are made of stern stuff and upped the tempo despite old hand Furlong emerging from the fog to join the fray. Great work from Baker saw him beat Furlong in the air as a famous London 'pea souper` threatened to descend. At the other end Kerr was denied by an eagle eyed Cole clearly with superglue on his gloves and Hughton chipped one a foot wide. Then through the Matrix came Mr Anderson, flashing down the left. His hundred mile an our inch perfect cross was met by out of favour Lenny who powered home a non stop express train of a header into the bottom right hand corner.

A last gasp seat of our pants win but its two from two for the Imps with a brace of goals in each and Halleluliah the cods are sinking six points back. The Imps stay 22nd but are level on 25 points with Cheltenham, Hereford and Torquay in 19th. Incredibly we are also only 13 points off the playoffs with a game in hand.

Teams

Barnet: Jake Cole, Joe Devera, Kenny Gillet, Mark Hughes, Ismail Yakubu, Albert Adomah, John O'Flynn, Micah Hyde, Ryan O'Neill, Albert Jarrett, Jake Hyde.

Subs: Joe Tabiri, Danny Hart, Daniel Leach, Ahmed Deen, Phil Carpenter, Paul Furlong, Lee Sawyer

Imps: Rob Burch, Paul Green, Joe Anderson, Nathan Baker, Adam Watts, Cian Hughton, Scott Kerr, Chris Herd, Brian Gilmour, Matthew Saunders, Delroy Facey.

Imps subs: Moses Swaibu, Paul Connor, Lenell John-Lewis, Paul Musselwhite, Clark Keltie, Michael Gordon, Michael Uwezu.

ATTENDANCE: 1,810 (362 City supporters)
Goals
Barnet: Yakubu 75
Imps Hughton 30 Lewis 93

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