Barnet 1 Boston United 0

Dudfield & Charles

Boston United’s calendar year ended on a losing note as they wasted huge amounts of possession to fall to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Barnet at Underhill.

The hosts claimed all three points thanks to Dwane Lee’s 47th minute header, despite the Pilgrims enjoying the majority of possession throughout the match. However, United were unable to convert their territorial advantage into goals and home goalkeeper Ross Flitney was rarely tested.

Both sides suffered setbacks in the pre-match warm-up with Stewart Talbot and Simon King both withdrawing from their respective line-ups with injuries. Francis Green and Anthony Charles duly deputised. It was United’s only change to the side that had drawn 0-0 at Lincoln City on Boxing Day.

The Pilgrims attacked their supporters in the first half, surging down the famous Underhill slope at regular intervals during the opening 45 minutes. Flitney clutched Lawrie Dudfield’s effort on the turn after just 40 seconds, following a lively opening in which Danny Thomas had crossed from the left. Boston threatened again and Lee Canoville’s right-wing cross was nodded on by Julian Joachim and Alan White sent a header over Flitney’s crossbar from 12 yards.

Barnet’s Paolo Vernazza received the game’s first booking on 10 minutes when he was cautioned for felling Green, who had embarked on a swift counter-attack down the slope. In reply, Barnet mustered a half-chance on 17 minutes when Liam Hatch dragged an effort weakly wide from 20 yards. The home side had a goal ruled out a minute later when Ben Strevens’ drive was ruled out for a pushing offence by Charles on Paul Ellender.

Confrontation

United’s best chance of the half arose when Canoville’s excellent throughball saw Dudfield roll away from Charles and his left-footed half-volley from 25 yards was well gathered by Flitney. At the other end, Conrad Logan made a routine save to gather Lee’s 25-yard free-kick.

Barnet opened the second half well and Logan had to produce a good save to deny Damian Batt after the impressive Nicky Bailey had supplied the pass. And the home side opened the scoring on 47 minutes when Lee powered home a free header from Dean Sinclair’s right-wing cross, after Boston had failed to properly clear the initial free-kick. Logan made a cracking save six minutes later to tip Bailey’s dipping 30-yarder over the bar for another corner.

Boston made a bold substitution on 62 minutes when Jason Lee replaced White and the Pilgrims switched to a 3-4-3 formation. United continued to dominate in the possession stakes and Thomas’ fine ball across played in Green, who drilled an effort just wide from 18 yards.

Logan made a decent save to deny Sinclair from close-range as Barnet pressed for a second, before Dudfield drilled an effort wide at the other end from 18 yards. The Boston keeper continued to earn the plaudits and he made a fine point-blank range save to thwart Sinclair, before Ellender flung himself into the way to deny the same player as Barnet threatened.

Strevens & Ellender

Boston piled men forward, including Noel Whelan, with the Pilgrims ending the match with a 3-3-4 formation and peppering the Barnet box with balls forward. The closest they came to equalising was when Austin McCann’s free-kick found its way to Green and his acrobatic volley was cleared off the line by Simon Clist.

Barnet almost made the game safe in stoppage time, but substitute Jason Norville flashed an effort wide from 20 yards, just 20 seconds after coming off the bench, leaving United to contemplate what might have been once more.

Barnet (4-4-2): Flitney; Batt, Yakubu, Charles, Clist; Lee, Sinclair, Vernazza, Bailey; Strevens (Norville 90), Hatch. Subs (not used): Hickie, Roache, Bowditch, Tynan (gk).

Boston (4-4-2): Logan; Canoville, White (Lee 62), Ellender, McCann; Green, Holland, Rusk, Thomas (Maylett 82); Joachim, Dudfield (Whelan 72). Subs (not used): Galbraith, Greaves.