Barnet 1 Northwich Vics 0

Nationwide Conference Saturday, September 22

OF the three successive league defeats that have plunged Vics from third to 15th, this was the one that will encourage fans the most, particularly given their makeshift line-up.

With Barnet looking set to challenge for a quick return to the Football League, holding them to 1-0 is no disgrace, given that Vics boss Jimmy Quinn had to cope with injury disruption both before and during the match.

He named himself alongside assistant Steve Davis in the heart of the defence - a combined age of 77 years - as skipper Gary Talbot was suffering from an infection.

Then Davis only lasted 21 minutes after departing with a hamstring strain, Marcus Jones dropping back into defence from midfield.

But against a side undefeated at home since their return to the Conference, the other centre back, Gary Burke turned in an outstanding performance to restrict them to Leon Bell's long-range winner.

The visitors struggled to make any impression as they began playing up the famous Underhill slope, and it was Barnet who created the first chance after 15 minutes when a deflected shot from Ben Stevens was well saved by Paul Gibson.

Gibson then spread himself to block Greg Heald's shot before Jones, shortly after dropping back, produced a timely tackle to dispossess Neil Midgley as he bore down on goal.

Barnet continued to have the edge but were unable to breach the Vics rearguard as Burke twice diverted shots by Mark Gower just beyond the post at the end of the first half.

The second half began with Midgley heading narrowly wide before Stevens outpaced Quinn and collided heavily with Jones as the defender challenged him. The Barnet striker was stretchered from the field after lengthy treatment.

However, Vics looked comfortable in keeping the home side at bay and it took something special to break the deadlock in the 63rd minute. Following one of a series of corners, the ball fell to Bell and the 20-year-old hit a screaming long range shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Gibson pulled off a superb save from a Lee Flynn free-kick before Mark Devlin raced into the box but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

With 20 minutes remaining Vics began to show more self-belief as Gregg Blundell forced a save from Lee Harrison with a header, and they adopted a 4-3-3 system, Jon Dawson replacing Adie Mike and Quinn moving himself up front.

Burke headed on a long throw by Mark Bailey but Dawson's overhead kick missed the target, while Barnet broke quickly to the other end where only an acrobatic save by Gibson denied Stuart Niven.

Otherwise, the game ended with Barnet hanging on desperately as Burke and then Michael Meaker both fired over the bar in front of a gaping goal.

Vics: Gibson, Bailey, Barnard, Quinn, Burke, Davis (Brownrigg 21; Meaker 75), Garvey, Jones, Blundell, Mike (Dawson 75), Devlin. Subs not used: Mitchell, Knowles. Bookings: Jones. Attendance: 1,364. Star man: Gary Burke.