Torquay United 0 Barnet 1
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Despite an improved second half performance United went down to the only goal of the game against Barnet at Plainmoor in their latest League 2 encounter.
Mustapha Carayol replaced Wayne Carlisle who wasn't risked for the full ninety minutes after tweaking his hamstring at Burton Albion on Tuesday night.
United's record at Plainmoor against Barnet isn't great but they started well enough in this match and Carayol won a corner early on with a neatly struck low near-post cross that was cleared before Elliot Benyon could get a touch. The Gulls continued to press although the visitors gradually began to exert some pressure of their own with Adomah looking particularly dangerous out wide.
The only glimpses at goal were falling United's way but Carayol couldn't keep a ten yard header down and neither goalkeeper was unduly worried in the opening exchanges. The closest Barnet came to scoring in the opening quarter of the match was a curling free-kick from Adomah but Scott Bevan always had the shot covered and it ended up harmlessly hitting the side netting.
What turned out to be the game's crucial moment came in the 25th minute after Chris Todd brought down Jarrett with a very late challenge and from the resultant free-kick Adomah curled a right foot cross toward the United six yard box. Despite plenty of pushing and shoving no player from either team could get a meaningful touch on the ball while Scott Bevan realised too late that the ball was now curling in toward his top left hand corner; the bounce of the ball did for Scott who, even with his height, couldn't get his fingertips to the ball. A goal behind to a very unfortunate effort but it was time for the Gulls to roll their sleeves up and dig deep.
Goal: United 0 Barnet 1 (Adomah 26)
Last weekend at Dagenham the Gulls were accused of not being nasty enough and there seemed to be a similar trait running through them in this match at times. Just after the half hour mark though an opportunity presented itself after Chris Todd jumped above the Barnet defence and the on rushing 'keeper to get a head on a long free-kick but he couldn't quite direct his header under a challenge and Barnet cleared their lines.
It was Toddy's last contribution of the afternoon as Bucks decided on a tactical switch by sending Lee Mansell on and pulling Chris Robertson inside to partner Kieran Charnock.
Sub: Mansell replaced Todd (33)
Things almost got worse for United in the 38th minute when Barnet carved them open on the edge of the Gulls penalty area but Adomah was given offside by the referee's assistant. It was the correct decision but it was let off for the home side.
Half-Time: United 0 Barnet 1
No changes at the break for the Gulls and not for the first time this season they started the second half very positively after not doing themselves justice in the first period. United were a little sloppy in possession at times but there was a far quicker tempo to their play. Mustapha Carayol had a sight at goal three minutes after the restartand Scott Bevan, largely untroubled throughout the game, produced a superb save up to his left after a shot from Hyde took a deflection off Charnock.
That Barnet effort was a rarity in the second half but United were still a goal down despite now playing the more attacking football. Carayol shot wide from 20 yards and Elliot Benyon did similarly moments later as United knocked on the door of an equalizer.
Sub: Wayne Carlisle replaced Danny Stevens (58)
United produced the best move of the match on the hour mark with Benyon and Hargreaves combining well to slip the ball into the path of Nicky Wroe who took a touch before hitting a rasping right footed drive from 16 yards but Cole in the Barnet goal produced a fine one handed parry to concede a corner.
Carayol was doing his best to drive the team forward and at times Barnet had to double up just to stop the United winger from breaking through their backline.
Sub: Tim Sills replaced Scott Rendell (75)
United were the only side now looking likely to score and Barnet were doing very little in the way of positive football and were clock watching for most of the second half. Tim Sills and Wayne Carlisle seemed to get in each other way as they attacked a far post cross from Carayol as chances and time began to run out.
Nicky Wroe came closest of all to grabbing a point for United when his shot from 22 yards hit the right hand post with Cole beaten. Carayol collected a booking late on as his frustration eventually boiled over and the four added minutes wasn't long enough for the Gulls and a first home defeat of the season was inflicted upon them.
United: Bevan; Robertson, Todd (Mansell 33), Charnock, Nicholson, Carayol, Wroe, Hargreaves, Stevens (Carlisle 58), Benyon, Rendell (Sills 75). Subs not used: Brough, Rice (gk), Hodges, Joyce.
