Bees settle for a point at Crewe

Nick Sandamas sees promotion-chasing Barnet miss out on three points due to a late own goal

View across a football pitch with a tower block rising above the stand — Crewe Alexandra’s Gresty Road ground – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet centre half Zac Williams’s own goal five minutes from the end of normal time gave hosts Crewe Alexandra a point at Gresty Road yesterday.

The draw keeps the promotion-chasing Bees in second place but they now trail leaders Salford City by five points with a game in hand.

With Dean Brennan serving a one-match touchline ban, pitchside duties were handed to his coaching staff.

Despite the win over York City in midweek, the Bees’ made two changes. One was enforced, with Idris Kanu serving a one-match ban for accumulating five booking, while Jack Maskell was relegated to the bench, Tom Knowles and Nmamdi Ofoborh replaced them.

For the opening half hour, there was very little to speak about then, on 34 minutes, an excellent strike by Knowles broke the deadlock.

Charlie Lakin’s free kick on the left was only cleared to the feet of the number seven and, standing outside the area, he delivered a left footed rocket shot past Alex keeper Ian Lawlor into the roof of the net. It was the winger’s second goal in the league this season and his fifth in all competitions.

In trying to pull themselves level before half time, the Alex did create their first real chance when, following a right sided run, March squared the ball to Jordan Gibson but Adam Senior was there to block the shot towards the goal.

Then Charlie ‘O’Neill’s shot went wildly off bean, so the Bees went into the break one goal ahead.

The early part of the second half, like the first, saw little in the way of chances until the final ten minutes.

On the hour, both sides changed personnel including Tuesday’s goalscorer Jake Reeves joining the midfield.

With ten minutes left, an Alex free kick by Joe White went comfortably into the arms of Matt Cox.

Then, with five minutes of normal time remaining, a needless foul by Isiah Noel-Williams presented the Alex with the chance to pump a free kick into the area.

White did just that and it led to the equaliser. His free kick into the danger area went towards Williams who unfortunately met the ball with his boot and, with Cox stranded on the wrong side of the goal, the ball trickled into the net to draw the Cheshire side level.

Both sides then traded late chances to win the game.

Two minutes after the leveller, Reece Hutchinson ran down the left side and his cross was met by March whose header struck the crossbar.

Then, in the third minute of stoppage time, a fine run by Brendon Comley saw him pick out Damola Ajayi but his run and shot was turned behind by Lawlor.

Probably a fair result in the end, but Brennan post match was disappointed by the efforts of both substitutes Noel-Williams and Williams, first giving away the free kick which ultimately led to the own goal.

The Bees now have a break from the league as they host League Two rivals Tranmere Rovers in the 1st round of the FA Cup next Saturday.

Team: Cox, Senior, Collinge, Tavares, Crichlow (Williams 60), Comley, Ofoborh (Reeves 60), Gallagher, Lakin (Ajayi 75) Tshimanga,(Noel-Williams 80), Knowles (Maskell 60)

Subs not used: Ashby-Hammond, Smith

Attendance 4855 (431 away fans)

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