Football: Phillips keeps Barnet in the battle
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Your support makes all the difference.Cardiff City. . .1
Barnet. . . . . .1
USING Barnet as an acronym the latest issue of the fanzine When Saturday Comes came up with 'Boadroom antics ruin nearly every triumph'. They drew yesterday but the relevance of this match will depend on whether the club survives to complete the season. A good result these days is another 24 hours without a letter from the bank manager. However, there is no suggestion that they have given up their hopes of rising above their present league status.
A point was gained but they could have got three if their second-half control had been maintained. Instead Cardiff equalized with six minutes remaining to preserve a three-point advantage over their north London rivals.
Perhaps it was having to pay for their own bed and breakfast that made Barnet begin as if they had some grievance to work off. Nicky Evans headed the visitors in front in the eighth minute, capitalising on a fine cross from Brian Stein from the right.
The prospects did not look good for Cardiff and they looked worse when Gary Phillips saved Chris Pike's 17th-minute penalty and then pulled off a breathtaking save seconds before half-time. Phil Stant crossed, Pike headed and the ball seemed certain to be going into the top corner until Phillips tipped it over. Every good save is set against Gordon Banks' in Mexico in 1970 and this comparison was less fanciful than most.
Phillips also saved well to deny Nick Richardson and Barnet appeared to have withstood the worst Cardiff could throw at them when the equalizer arrived. Richardson's corner was headed on by Jason Perry and Cohen Griffith scored at the far post.
Barnet have not won for four matches but the off-field statistics are grimmer. Stan Flashman, their chairman, wants to sell the club. Last November Barnet were fined pounds 50,000 by the Football League for breaches in regulations, a penalty that allegedly has not been paid; next month the club's books will be inspected again.
Things are dire but at least the players went home happy. Fry revealed that Rick Wright, the Cardiff owner, visited the Barnet dressing room after the match and gave them pounds 1,000 for a meal.
Cardiff City: G Ward; R James, D Searle, D Brazil, J Perry, K Ratcliffe, P Ramsey, N Matthews (C Griffith, 75 min), P Stant, C Pike, N Blake (N Richardson, 45 min). Coach: E May.
Barnet: G Phillips; R Huxford, D Naylor, M Bodley, D Howell, T Sorrell, D Payne, B Stein, G Bull, N Evans, J Hunt. Subs not used: M Carter, T Lynch. Manager: B Fry.
Referee: S Dunn (Bristol).
Goals: Evans (0-1, 7 min); Griffith (1-1, 84 min).
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