A bright start from Barnet, playing down the slope, saw them take the game to the Imps from the off and grab a justified early lead on 6 minutes. McLeod and Uddin took Watts and Hunt to the near post leaving Steve Kabba unmarked, to head into the roof of the net. We would see that one a few times today and fall for it at every set piece, every time. On 13 the Imps stung themselves and gave away a penalty. Man of the match Marshall roasted Kelly with Howell tripping the lad as he ran across the box and down the channel. Kabba cool as a cucumber sent Carson the wrong way.
Uddin then headed a towering effort against the bar from another out swinging corner two minutes later, as the Imps continued to struggle at set pieces. This flurry of corners were largely coming from on loan Oxford winger Deering who has two quick feet and was too much for Hunt albeit our left back being twice his size and McCallum who was grasping at air each time he gamboled gayly passed. Marshall was also continuing to torment the hapless Kelly, whilst in the engine roon Hughes and Jarvis outmuscled O’Keefe and Fuseini ; to pull those strings that effortlessly fed the flanks. What a shame that Hoyte pulled out and the budget did not stretch to a ball winning midfield general.
With 3 queuing up on the edge of the Imps box, Deering squared and Hughes curled a beauty from 23 yards. So 38 minutes gone and the Imps were already three down and looking at a hiding. McLeod somehow poked wide a minute later fed by the umpteenth free header at a free kick. There was yet another when Kabba headed against the post with just 40 minutes now on the clock as the Bees seemed to threaten a goal at every set piece. On the positive we finished just 3 down giving Tilly the chance to tell the Imps to at least go out and salvage some pride.
The Imps started the second half brightly although they were bound to live dangerously. That said Barnet missed two sitters in the space of 20 seconds that would change the game. As an end to end affair ensued, reminiscent of some of the humdingers of old between these two sides, a sweet reverse ball from Grimes was despatched home smartly by the advancing Howell to get us back into the game. The 544 travelling Imps went mad and there was still another 42 minutes to go.
It got even better three minutes later when Delroy Facey fed Grimes in the box, the goal machine slammed home from close range on the turn. 3-2 game definitely on and we were playing down the slope this half. On 58 minutes Watt was caught with Ref Ward sensationally pointing to the spot, only for Grimes to see his penalty superbly saved by Jake Cole diving to the left.
The Imps may have been shading the chances but Marshall was always a danger given he had Kelly in his pocket. Roasting Kelly for the umpteenth time in the 68th minute, he crossed superbly, our defence, not for the first time, failed to deal with it and Izale McLeod tucked home at the far post for 4-2. With 20 minutes still to play that kicked the stuffing from the Imps and with The Bees too tired to scale the slope their ended a nother high scoring affair. Thats 46 goals in the last 9 meetings for these two and they were doing a quid a kid too!
Barnet 4-4-2
Cole
Dunleavy Uddin Devera Parkes
Deering, Hughes, Jarvis Marshall
McLeod (Yellow) Kabba (Yellow)
Substitutions: Stimpson on for McLeod (84)
subs 12 Stimpson 13 Cox 18 O’Brien 19 Pamboe 21 Kamdjo 27 Vilhete 28 Frazer
Lincoln City 4-4-2
Carson
Kelly Hone Watts Hunt (Yellow)
Howell O’Keefe Fuseini McCallum (Yellow)
Grimes Facey
Substitutions Carayol on for O'Keefe (75) Ben Hutchinson on for Grimes 89 Spencer on for Facey 90.
Subs 1 Anyon 2 Green 7 Carayol 19 Clapham 27 Hutchinson 39 Spencer 40 Kanyuka
Barnet 3 - 0 Lincoln City (HT 3-0)
Barnet scorers: Kabba 6 & 15 (pen) Hughes 38 McLeod 68
Imps scorers : Howell 47 Grimes 50 Missed Pen
Ref: Ward
Att 2226 (1702 Bees 544 Imps)
Possession Barnet 51% Lincoln City 49%
Shots on target Barnet 8 Lincoln City 6
Shots off target Barnet 3 Lincoln City 4
Corners Barnet 7 Lincoln City 4
Fouls Barnet 12 Lincoln City 9
Yellows Barnet 2 Lincoln City 2
Offsides Barnet 4 Lincoln City 2
Corners Barnet 7 Lincoln City 6
Saves Barnet 2 Lincoln City 2