Nuneaton 3 Barnet 2: Junior Agogo smashed a shot against an upright in the dying minutes and Barnet emerged pointless from a match they had dominated for over an hour but squandered several scoring opportunities.

Agogo should have put the Bees ahead after only six minues, when he raced on to Wayne Purser's through pass, but shot wide.

Nuneaton hit back, taking a 14th minute lead. Barnet keeper Danny Naisbitt did well to tip a 30-yard drive from Sam Ricketts over the bar but from Andy Ducros' resultant corner, Barry Williams headed home at the near post.

Frazer Toms eqalised after 27 minutes. Agogo ended a burst on the right with a cross toToms, who had a simple task from close range.

Barnet got on top, but Agogo missed a great chance to put them ahead after 52 minutes. A corner by Mark Gower was bound for the far corner of the net, until Agogo intervened, scooping the ball over the bar from a yard out.

The turning point came in the 63rd minute. Toms, under no presssure, hit a backpass that was seized on by Marc McGregor, his shot was initially blocked by Naisbitt, however Dean Walling swooped on the loose ball to put Borough 2-1 ahead.

Nuneaton went 3-1 up after 83 minutes. Naisbitt did well to parry a powerful rising sot from Dean Williams, but McGregor was first to the rebound and netted.

Two minutes later Barnet's hopes of taking a point were revived when Agogo, always a threat with his pace, was brought down by Ricketts and he got up to power the penalty into the corner of the net.

Time ran out however for Barnet and they were left rueing the missed chances.

BARNET: Naisbitt; Yakubu, Heald, Pluck, Flynn; Gower, Doolan, Strevens, Toms (Bell, 70); Purser, Agogo. Substitutes not used: Harrison, Midgley, Oshitola, Niven.

Man of the match: Heald. Attendance: 868.

December 9, 2002 11:30