Barnet 1 Chester City 0 . . .

A first-half Dean Sinclair penalty gave Barnet their first win in ten league games.

And it would have been even more comfortable for the Bees had Nicky Bailey not missed a second spot kick with 20 minutes to go.

But manager Paul Fairclough admitted he was just relieved to get three points, which the Bees thoroughly deserved.

"It's all about getting results and this has been a long time in coming. You could see our determination to grind out a result and that is what we did today.

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

Fairclough was full of praise for his players.

"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."

Barnet did most of the running, but could have found themselves behind on just six minutes, when Ismail Yakubu failed to get his head to a ball down the left. But the visitors somehow contrived to not even get a shot on goal with just Ross Flitney standing in their way.

Sinclair had Barnet's first chance on 19 minutes. Magno Vieira played him in with a super first-time ball, but the midfielder's 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 it. This time Jason Puncheon sent him down the left, but, as the Barnet player went to pick up the ball, Kevin Sandwith tripped him from behind. Sinclair, with regular penalty taker Ian Hendon injured, picked himself up to 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 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 just past the post.

When Yakubu was tripped 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 parried by Danby.

It was almost to prove costly. Within a minute, Chester broke and Jon Walters, just six yards out and with the goal at his mercy, headed a right-wing cross a foot over. He should have buried it.

City were not to trouble the hosts again and Bailey almost sealed it with a shot that was deflected just wide after a good run from Puncheon. From the corner, Yakubu headed over.

Chester's slim hopes of nicking a point were finally dashed five minutes from time, when Roberto Martinez was red-carded for a second bookable offence.

BARNET (4-4-2): Flitney; Devera, Yakubu, King, Nicolau; Sinclair, Hessenthaler, Bailey, Puncheon (Graham 90); Kandol, Vieira (Warhurst 76).

Attendance: 2,301.

Best Bee: Nicky Nicolau.

* Barnet were handed an FA Cup Barnet 1 Chester City 0 . . .

A first-half Dean Sinclair penalty gave Barnet their first win in ten league games.

And it would have been even more comfortable for the Bees had Nicky Bailey not missed a second spot kick with 20 minutes to go.

But manager Paul Fairclough admitted he was just relieved to get three points, which the Bees thoroughly deserved.

"It's all about getting results and this has been a long time in coming. You could see our determination to grind out a result and that is what we did today.

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

Fairclough was full of praise for his players.

"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."

Barnet did most of the running, but could have found themselves behind on just six minutes, when Ismail Yakubu failed to get his head to a ball down the left. But the visitors somehow contrived to not even get a shot on goal with just Ross Flitney standing in their way.

Sinclair had Barnet's first chance on 19 minutes. Magno Vieira played him in with a super first-time ball, but the midfielder's 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 it. This time Jason Puncheon sent him down the left, but, as the Barnet player went to pick up the ball, Kevin Sandwith tripped him from behind. Sinclair, with regular penalty taker Ian Hendon injured, picked himself up to 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 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 just past the post.

When Yakubu was tripped 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 parried by Danby.

It was almost to prove costly. Within a minute, Chester broke and Jon Walters, just six yards out and with the goal at his mercy, headed a right-wing cross a foot over. He should have buried it.

City were not to trouble the hosts again and Bailey almost sealed it with a shot that was deflected just wide after a good run from Puncheon. From the corner, Yakubu headed over.

Chester's slim hopes of nicking a point were finally dashed five minutes from time, when Roberto Martinez was red-carded for a second bookable offence.

BARNET (4-4-2): Flitney; Devera, Yakubu, King, Nicolau; Sinclair, Hessenthaler, Bailey, Puncheon (Graham 90); Kandol, Vieira (Warhurst 76).

Attendance: 2,301.

Best Bee: Nicky Nicolau.

* Barnet were handed an FA Cup first-round trip to Gainsborough Trinity in Saturday evening's draw.

trip to Gainsborough Trinity in Saturday evening's draw.