BAS FC Match Report 2004/05

Date: 03/10/04

Opposition: Barnet College

Score: 4-4

Scorers: Frankie (2), Paul N, Steve

Venue: BHP

H/T: 0-2

Ref: A controversial Uday

Crowd: 10

Team: Russell Frankie

Dave Karl Steve John

Paul M Zed Gary Flipper

Andy

Subs: Paul N, Fred

Our last two meetings had produced 17 goals and today our capacity crowd of 10 was treated to another 8 goal thriller.

We dominated the first half hour and should perhaps have been 5 up with some really superb moves - Karl, Steve, Russell and Frankie all came very close and even Flipper hit the bar but we couldn't find the back of the net. All they could muster in return was a near post effort that we blocked at close range. Continued strong defending by Zed kept Vlad, their powerful Russian, at bay for most of the half.

But the deadlock was broken on 35 minutes following an awful clearance from a back pass which landed straight at Barnet's feet some 30 yards out. As two white shirts advanced towards our goal the virtual linesman's side flag stayed down and Barnet took the lead as they slid the ball home at the far post. Zed went bonkers at everyone responsible (make that me for the clearance and Uday for the off side decision).

Then Barnet bagged their second 5 minutes later as their center forward broke from the half way line with no one in pursuit and slammed home from 18 yards with Gary still appealing for off side and everyone else standing motionless. Not the best way to end what had otherwise been an excellent half.

Second half started. We regained our composure but created little to threaten Barnet's goal. Our defence was kept busy and defended well initially until Barnet went 3 up on the hour as they broke in numbers, pushed it out wide and fired in the rebound from close range following a fierce shot at the near post. Gary and Zed had a little heated confrontation about the finer points of picking up loose forwards and it looked like fortress Bush Hill Park had crumbled at last.

But Frankie was full of running and Russell was literally playing everywhere on the pitch. Somehow Frankie broke free on 65 minutes and tucked the ball away amid claims of handball to give us a slender lifeline at 1-3. Frankie snatched his second moments later with another fine finish amid more protests from Barnet - not sure about what but who cares. Barnet's heads went down and we really believed we had an outside chance with just 20 minutes remaining.

An inspired substitution followed on 75 minutes - Flipper came off, Dave went to right back and Paul N filled the left midfield position. No sooner had he come on, Paul ran onto a loose ball just inside their box and slammed in a stunner to level the scores. And we weren't finished. With 10 minutes left we miraculously took the lead as Steve's thumping shot curled inside the far post. Frankie then came off to a great ovation to be replaced by Fred.

Barnet retaliated with two brilliant daisy cutter shots that shaved the outside of the post and then secured the equaliser on 85 minutes as Vlad ran on to a ball clipped over the top and drilled in a low shot inside the far post.

A tense final final few minutes had the crowd on edge. Surely neither side would dare win this one. Then all hell broke out as Fred was clattered in the back from behind and went tumbling down heavily in the 90th minute inside their box. Uday bravely awarded a penalty, which had to be the right decision, much to the outcry of Barnet as you can expect. Matters were made worse as Fred writhed on the ground for about 5 minutes clutching his leg. Then with the two sides still at loggerheads, Uday blew up and began dismantling the nets before we had the chance to actually take the penalty! We can only guess what the final score might have been but for the record 4-4 was the official result (or was it match abandoned?)

A great come back and perhaps one we should have won.

With 10 minutes left