Pre-match news was that Currie was out with a stomach bug. It was raining and miserable and the ball was shooting off the pitch. Town in the home kit.
Town kicked off towards the new stand with Roberson playing out wide on the left. This was my first look at the new players. They looked fit and up for it. Town had more of the ball early on and looked good but the referee angered the Town fans with the early bookings of Page and Goodall. Ward was culpable for two misses when he should have done better. The first he shot straight at the keeper from a good position; the second he screwed wide from a one on one. It was identical to the one that Rooney scored last season but whereas Rooney buried it, Wardy screwed it wide. It was deja-vu again when Lester seemed to be brought down for a penalty, but, just like last season, he was booked for diving. The referee seemed to be a homer and the fans were shouting "Two teams ref"
Barnet had created little, despite their build up and it was cruel when they won a free-kick five yards inside their own half and scored The defender sent a curling ball into the penalty area. Lee came for it but seemed to come too far and completely misjudged it; the ball sailing over him into the net. Schoolboy era. End of story. So we were 1-0 down when we should have been 2-0 up.
I'd been impressed with Harsley in midfield. He's a hard worker who tackles hard and chases. Pages positioning was good as was his captaincy and talking. Austin looked a rock. I thought Town had played well in the first half, there was certainly no lack of effort but if you don't take your chances you don't win games. We were losing and Barnet only had a couple of half chances. I thought we were just the better side in the first half.
It took the quality of Lester to get us back into the game. Picking up the ball he shuffled forward and across with three or four players around him. In typical style he found a way through and slotted home the equaliser. A brilliant chip from Lester thirty yards out put us 2-1 up after Harsley, I think, had done the hard work and then there was only one team in it. Ward picked up a through ball that came off a defender and scored from a one on one to make it 3-1. He needed to score after the early misses so he would have finished the game on a high.
Barnet looked more threatening after the substitutions and Lee redeemed himself with a couple of quality saves that could have turned the game for Barnet had they gone in. When he was beaten Page was there to clear off the line. A great start to the season but better teams will ask more searching questions.
Barnet Manager on the radio says we were out thought by the better side and he fancies us to there in the mix.
Great opening day! I found it an entertaining game. Come on you Blues.
This post has been edited by frearsghost: 09 August 2008 - 06:27 PM