With Andy Preece departed for Worcester, and Karl Hawley injured, United brought in Craig Farrell and Magno Vieira. Carlos Roca started on the left wing. Utility man Dave Beharall made his debut. It took United just eight minutes to break through. Magno Vieira made a nice flick and run to set up Craig Farrell who stabbed home into the corner. Vieira was at it again a minute later as he sped away down the flanks and tried to set up Farrell who was denied by a covering defender who conceded a corner. It was 2-0 in the 13th minute as Arnison helped the ball to Vieira who flicked on to Farrell and again the recalled striker showed great composure to finish underneath the keeper. Farrell and Vieira combined again to make it 3-0 just moments later. Debutant David Beharall had a shot blocked and came back to Vieira who smashed home from 12 yards out. Damien Batt had to go off on a stretcher for the visitors in the 22nd minute. Richard Graham came on in his place. Vieira nearly added another when he went round the keeper and saw his shot blocked and then Arnison shot well over the bar. The Bees got back into the game on 32 minutes when Nicky Bailey met a telling cross with his head and found the back of the net with a header into the top corner. Farrell collected another Vieira pass on 37 minutes but keeper Gore spread himself to save. Tierney floated in the corner, Beharall touched on a header and Vieira claimed the final touch to go 4-1 up. 4-1 was the half-time score, with United well in charge. Both sides had been weakened by illness and injury, but the Cumbrians were showing much the greater appetite and deserved to be out in front. Barnet began the second half with a bit more urgency, but United held firm at the back. A Tierney cross was directed too close to Gore on 59 minutes. Strevens fired harmlessly over the bar for the Bees. Glennon came out to claim two deep crosses from the dangerous Graham as the visitors tried to put him under pressure. Murphy and Beharall made a mess of a clearance and allowed Graham in to shoot but the ball was deflected over by Murphy. Kevin Henderson came on for Vieira. Sinclair fired in a loose shot that went wide of the right upright. Brendan McGill replaced Mark Tierney. Both teams appeared to have accepted the result as the game moved into the final 10 minutes. Barnet forced a late corner and Glennon dropped it but a free kick swiftly awarded. Graham again went close in injury time as he fired narrowly over the bar after a good passing move. Al's verdict: A real confidence booster this with a stunning first half display, in which the revitalised pair of Vieira and Farrell tore Barnet to ribbons. All credit to Simmo for putting together a scratch line-up and getting such a performance out of them. Once the game was won, we took our foot off the gas and it was Barnet who looked more likely to pull something back in the latter stages, but we never looked like giving them much. Such a shame that due to circumstances outside the club's control, only 1,600 were there to see it. Back to Brunton Park from next weekend, and hopefully, back to form in the Conference. |
