Barnet 1 Chester City 0

"It has been a long time coming."

Barnet manager Paul Fairclough joined in the collective sigh of relief at Underhill on Saturday when the Bees secured their first league win in nine games.

Fairclough said: "We are slaves to results, which I don't like, but that is the way it is. To get that result was a relief to everyone.

"People don't realise how tough it is to win a game in this league, but I've always believed in these players and the squad.

"We are in the position we are in for a reason. No one will help us except ourselves. You could see our determination to grind out a result and that is what we did."

Strangely, the elusive three points came easier than most would have expected.

A first-half Dean Sinclair penalty proved enough and, had Nicky Bailey converted a second spot kick 20 minutes from time, it would have been even more comfortable.

Fairclough said: "If we had put away our second penalty, it would have been a truer reflection of the game."

Though Chester had a couple of excellent chances, they never really got going and Barnet generally looked in control. The dismissal of City's Roberto Martinez for a second yellow card with five minutes to go arguably also did much to prevent a final anxious few minutes.

The Bees did most of the running, but could have found themselves behind after just six minutes, when Ismail Yakubu failed to get his head to a ball down the left.

However, the visitors somehow contrived to not even get a shot on goal with just keeper Ross Flitney standing in their way.

Sinclair had Barnet's first chance on 19 minutes. Magno Vieira played him in with a superb first-time ball, but the midfielder's fierce 25-yard shot was tipped round the post by keeper John Danby.

The goal came just before the half-hour and Sinclair was again at the heart of things. This time Jason Puncheon sent him down the left, but, as the Barnet player headed for the ball, Kevin Sandwith tripped him from behind.

Sinclair, with regular penalty taker Ian Hendon injured, picked himself up to coolly send Danby the wrong way from the spot.

Vieira might have extended the lead just before the interval, but sliced his shot wide when well placed.

At the other end, Flitney pulled off a fine point-blank save to deny Dean Bennett, who had burst into the box after taking advantage of a fortunate ricochet. It was a fine reflex save.

The Bees continued to carve out the better chances after the break too. Nicky Nicolau drove just over from the edge of the box and Andy Hessenthaler saw a volley bounce past the post.

When Yakubu was hauled down at the far post as he tried to reach a Bailey free-kick, Barnet were given the perfect opportunity to wrap it up. Bailey himself stepped up to the spot this time, but his driven penalty was blocked by Danby.

It almost proved costly. Within a minute, Chester broke and Jon Walters, just six yards out and with the goal at his mercy, somehow headed a right-wing cross a foot over.

Bailey almost sealed it with a shot that was deflected just wide after a good run from Puncheon, while Yakubu then headed over from the resultant corner.

Though Barnet were in control, the red card for Martinez gave them even more breathing space and Flitney was not troubled in the remaining minutes.