Terrific Bees denied by Reid strike

THE result was perhaps expected, but it does not begin to tell the full story of what really happened at the Valley this evening.

Barnet were dumped out of the FA Cup by Charlton thanks to a sole Kyel Reid goal, which occurred by virtue of an error from Joe Devera, but the Bees had turned the league tables on their heads with an inspired display full of verve and purpose.

Barnet created chances galore throughout an eventful 90 minutes, in which most of the football was played in the half of the club that not so long ago graced the Premier League.

Steve Kabba was outstanding throughout, creating opportunities for his team-mates, although he did miss one golden chance to level the scores.

The tone was set from the outset, as within the first minute Barnet went close, George Francomb's free-kick well-saved by his near post by Rob Elliot.

Just two minutes later Kevin Gallen, playing alongside Kabba up front, struck the post with a shot from a tight angle.

Charlton did not create anything until Devera dallied with his back to goal on the Barnet left on 19 minutes. Reid picked his pocket and used his pace to scamper unchallenged into the box, cutting inside and burying a shot past Jake Cole that flicked the post.

A half-empty Valley cheered, clearly expecting the goal to be the first of many. How wrong they were.

Mark Marshall was lively on the left flank throughout, and from that wing a ball was fired across goal, which Kabba dummied and centre-back Grant Basey – of all people – forced Elliot into a smart diving save.

Towards the end of the half Alan McCormack's run created a shooting chance for Johnnie Jackson, who brought the best out of Cole with a rasping drive.

Kabba then stung the fingers of Elliot with a fierce strike from range, while Marshall's resultant corner was deflected inches wide of the upright.

Barnet flew out of the traps after the interval, and for virtually the entire second half a neutral observer would have been forgiven for thinking it was the team in red that were languishing at the foot of League Two, and the whites that were flying high in League One.

Barnet were terrific, with Kabba in particular at the heart of most attacks.

Marshall was the first to go close for the visitors in the second period on 51 minutes, the livewire winger cutting in and unleashing a rasping effort that flew wide of the target.

Less than a minute later and Barnet should have drawn level. Kabba turned superbly 30 yards out and drove forward before threading a clever ball through for Rossi Jarvis, but the midfielder shot straight at Elliot when he should really have found the net.

It was one-way traffic as Mark Hughes' diving header from Francomb's centre was tipped wide by Elliot, and the keeper had to be alert soon after, reacting excellently to tip Basey's curling a free-kick round the post.

Glen Southam fizzed a shot narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box and it seemed a matter of time before the Bees would restore parity.

Charlton were all at sea, although from a brief counter-attack they could have extended their lead. Paul Benson, on as a second half substitute, broke away from a challenge and fed Pawel Abbott, but the striker's embarrassingly poor attempted lob looped harmlessly into the arms of Cole.

Jarvis was brought off for Rickly Holmes, and Kevin Gallen was hauled off for Izale McLeod as Mark Stimson went in search of the equaliser.

McLeod almost made an immediate impact, squaring for Kabba to seemingly tap home from eight yards, but Elliot did brilliantly to rush out and make a brave block.

McLeod then embarked on a jinking run into the box but Elliot was there once again to turn his effort away from danger from a tight angle.

Although Barnet could not find the breakthrough their efforts so richly deserved, it is a performance that will no doubt encourage Stimson when his side slip back into the real world that is the relegation dogfight at the bottom of League Two.