This was the same Referee who visited the Recreation Ground two weeks ago when he put in a poor performance in the match with Canvey Island in the F.A. Cup.
Now some ‘official’ in the FA decided to give him today’s game which will possibly turn out to be the biggest game of the season for the Shots and he certainly wasn’t up to the task.
The main controversy surrounded Barnet’s 83rd minute winner, when it appeared that a Barnet forward had jumped into Nikki Bull, making his punch ineffective and it fell to King who hammered home a perfect volley into the unguarded net from 25 yards out. To make matters worse the Ref had disallowed a Shots goal in the first half for what looked like less contact with the keeper, indeed after originally appearing to award the goal.
The Shots put in an excellent overall performance with Dixon again starring and were robbed of at least a point in a fine advert for Conference Football (apart from the Ref that is.)
In the third minute, a cross from Dwain Clarke went right across the six yard box with Challinor just failing to make the necessary contact. Shortly after, Liam Hatch headed over the Shots bar from six yards out when he should at least have tested Bully.
After seven minutes Barnet were in front. Chris Giles sliced a clearance over his own bar and from the resulting corner the ball was headed back across goal for the unmarked Grazioli to back heel in from two yards out.
Shots were soon back on the offensive however and after Sills out muscled a defender his pass found Challinor, whose delicate lob went just over. Shortly after Clarke had a decent left footed effort turned round the post by Tynan. From the corner came the first debateable decision of the match, when the Shots had the ball in the net through Dixon but it was eventually disallowed for a foul on Tynan after Mr Deadman had twice pointed to the centre circle.
The Shots deservedly levelled on thirty-five minutes with an excellent goal. After Dwain Clarke dummied the ball for Barnard on the Shots left, the full backs pin point cross was met by an exquisite flick from Dixon which found the back of the net.
The second half began with Shots in a rampant mood and they completely dominated the early play. After forty-nine minutes Clarke slipped Dixon in and he went on a brilliant solo run leaving defenders in his wake before just failing to chip the ball over the onrushing Tynan who made a good save.
From the corner a scramble ensued before Challinor’s fierce shot was blocked by the keeper and the rebound was headed just over by Giles.
Challinor then fired an effort just wide. In their first real attack of the half after fifty-seven minutes Warner had to head a dangerous looking cross over his own bar.
On sixty-seven minutes Barnet took the lead again - against the run of play. Richard Graham cut in from the Shots right, held off a Giles challenge and drilled an unstoppable shot into the far corner.
Shots were now chasing the game and were looking suspect against the counter attack. Grazioli then chased a long through ball but Bully came out of his area to just get there first and he cleared to safety. Then Aaron McLean replaced the disappointing Warner.
After seventy-six minutes the Shots again drew level. Barnard curled over a free kick which was knocked across goal by the head of Tim Sills and it was met by Jonny Dixon, whose brilliantly struck half volley flew past Tynan into the roof of the net.
A dangerous ball across the Shots six yard box just evaded an unmarked Barnet forward at the far post. Barnet’s controversial winner came after eighty-three minutes and a few minutes later Shots had a loud handball penalty appeal turned down after Sills was trying to steam through on goal. In the last minute Challinor hit the post from inside the six yard box but the raised off side flag spared his blushes. Giles had the last opportunity in the fifth minute of stoppage time but he turned and shot just wide of the target to sum up the Shots afternoon.
Match Report by Tongham Shots.