Despite His White Boots

Football, football, football and, if the mood takes me, more football.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Barnet 3 Dagenham & Redbridge 1

A comfortable win for the Bees against a very poor Dagenham outfit. Jason Puncheon had already had two free runs from the half way line, forcing two saves from pantomime villian keeper Tony Roberts, when he was scythed down in the box five minutes before the break. Puncheon slotted home himself from the spot. The visitors had their best chance of the game (prior to the pointless consolation goal) when a corner was headed onto the bar and the rebound volleyed wide by, er, someone, I was in the terrace by the opposite corner flag. Despite this I had a good enough view of Ishmael Yakubu's idiotic two-footed lunge in a position of no danger while already on a yellow card. I think he might have been given a straight red but in any case the Bees were down to ten men for the second half (on a day of sending offs it would seem).

Fortunately though Puncheon, the game's outstanding player by a country mile, secured the points. After five minutes of half-hearted Daggers pressure in the second half, a neat move ended with Adam Birchall feeding Puncheon inside the box, and he lifted his shot over Roberts for 2-0. That was pretty much that as you'd never have guessed Barnet were down to ten men, so poor were the opposition. Nonetheless Puncheon completed his hat-trick with an arcing left-foot shot into the top corner. An excellent hat-trick from a player who is way too good for this division. There was still time for Dagenham to scramble a consolation and Barnet sub Giuliano Grazioli to fire against the post.

Hats off to Puncheon and also stand-in centre halves Joe Devera and Kenny Gillet, both of whom have featured more often at full-back this season. The visitors were pretty desperate overall and I wouldn't bet against a return to the Conference. Nice to hear "Still Out" resounding around Underhill again, that took us back.

Elsewhere it was a shame that Rangers were knocked back by yet another injury time goal at Plymouth, but all the same, one less game to go before the transfer window opening and while I don't expect an entire new team to come in, we should be looking at half a defence at the very least, and ideally a goalscorer although everyone wants one of those and there aren't too many to go around. We'll see.

3 Comments:

  • At 12:48 PM, Blogger The Camel said…

    Remember the last time we spent millions on players?

    Sheron, Spencer, Jones, Hateley, Peacock and Ord.

    I'm still not convinced by the Bernie, Flavio, Lashkmi dream team.

    I hated Briatori's dismissive answer to the question "What is going to happen to the ABC loan". He said. "That's not something for the fans to worry about, that's our concern". I'm sorry. the fans have been here long before you even heard of QPR and will be here long after you leave. So, at least give us some respect please.

    Who knows if the whole thing isn't being funded with a loan from the XYZ corporation from Ecuador? The 3 of them did not become zillionaires by throwing money away. They are hard headed businessmen and if we get relegated I wouldn't be surprised if we are discarded like last years Christmas present.

    Obviously we are in a better position than 6 months ago. But, don't let's plan our away trips to Old Trafford just yet.

     
  • At 1:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Just a couple of points on this, first of all what would have happened if they hadn't come in ? All what-if but don't forget how grim it was looking.

    Regarding players coming in, indications are that we are going to sign Buzsaky, Vine and hopefully Ephraim. I'd certainly have no complaints with those. Gavin Mahon would be a squad player IMO and if he comes in for nothing, fine. Obv we need a centre half and I expect one of Fitz Hall or Martin Taylor to come in, and I would also expect us to at least try to get Cranie in the summer. What actually happens, we'll have to wait and see, but I don't think we're going to end up with any wankers like Jones or Hateley.

    Andy.

     
  • At 8:41 PM, Blogger The Camel said…

    Obv it's better they are here than not.

    I haven't been this excited about a signing as that of Buzsaky for a long, long time. He looks an outstanding player.

    I remember the rejoicing when Chris Wright took over.

    And look at the legacy he ultimately left.

    I don't expect the same to happen this time. But, it just wouldn't surprise me if it did.

     

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