4:57pm Saturday 24th January 2009
By Chris Flanagan
ACCRINGTON Stanley could not make their dominance count as they were held to a draw at home to 10-man Barnet this afternoon.
Stanley rained shots on goal all afternoon but never truly hit top form and only had Paul Mullin’s 55th-minute equaliser to show for their efforts.
The Reds trailed to an early Paul Furlong goal for fellow League Two strugglers Barnet but the visitors had to play with 10 men for 76 minutes after defender Kenny Gillet was shown a straight red for a rash tackle on Chris Turner.
Turner set up Mullin’s leveller 10 minutes after half time when he surged past replacement full back Nicky Nicolau and squared for the striker to slide the ball home from close range at the near post.
Barnet could have stolen a second goal midway through the second half, though, when Kenny Arthur had to deny John O’Flynn after he had initially blocked Furlong’s toe-poke.
Kallum Higginbotham then put a free header wide of the near post from John Miles’ cross and Ran Kadoch made a fine save to keep out Jimmy Ryan’s 20-yard grass-cutter.
Barnet took the lead against the run of play in the sixth minute when a quick free kick caught Stanley napping and Albert Adomah crossed for Furlong to head past Arthur.
But the Bees were reduced to 10 men eight minutes later when French left back Gillet lunged in dangerously and caught Turner, with referee David Foster issuing an immediate red card.
Stanley pressed for the rest of the half, with Higginbotham curling an effort just over the bar.
Phil Edwards then sliced badly wide from a good position and Andy Procter headed narrowly over from a Ryan free kick.
The equaliser did finally come from Mullin after the interval but a winner did not follow.
Stanley: Kenny Arthur; Phil Edwards, Colin Murdock, Kieran Charnock, Chris King; Chris Turner (Bobby Grant 80), Jimmy Ryan, Andy Procter, John Miles; Kallum Higginbotham, Paul Mullin. Subs not used: Ian Dunbavin, Jay Bell, Alan Burton, Andy Smith.
Barnet: Ran Kadoch; Max Porter, Joe Devera, Gary Breen, Kenny Gillet; Albert Adomah, Neal Bishop, Joe Tabiri, Tommy Black (Nicky Nicolau 18); Paul Furlong, John O’Flynn (Yannick Bolasie 88). Subs not used: Lee Harrison, Nicky Deverdics, Adam Birchall.
Referee: David Foster (Tyne and Wear).
Attendance: 1,056.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk