Barnet saved their best performance of the season until last – but their 3-0 final day win over Fulham wasn’t enough to secure a place in the Third Division play-offs.
Manager Ray Clemence’s attention now turns to warding off summer interest in strike pairing Lee Hodges and Sean Devine. Arsenal head coach Bruce Ricoh and Sheffield Wednesday manager David Pleat were in the crowd to watch Devine net another double as he signed off a sensational season in some style.
It took four minutes for Barnet to take the lead. Alan Pardew fed Hodges in midfield and a perceptive pass released Devine, who darted past Danny Bower, and fired a firm shot past Tony Lange from eight yards out. Fulham were far too causal – end if this was an end-of-season London derby – with manager Micky Adams infuriated by the way his players backed off Micky Tomlinson, who was allowed to carry the ball 60 yards before forcing a fine save from Lange.
John Marshall couldn’t bring Fulham level when Maik Taylor flapped at a cross from Robbie Herrera, but that sight of the Barnet goal sparked Fulham’s best period of pressure. Skipper Simon Morgan was furious with referee Mike Bailey for penalising him for pushing when the midfielder appeared to have been bundled over by Robbie Codner. Mike Conroy headed over the bar from a bright Brooker cross and Fulham would soon regret their failure to find the net.
The Bees doubled their lead seven minutes after half time when Devine made it to the ball ahead of Bower and played in Hodges, who fired past Lange from the left edge of the penalty area to give the home side a commanding lead. The Fulham goalkeeper endured a busy afternoon and made a magnificent save to keep out a powerful strike from Hodges after the centre forward had got free from a Shaun Gale corner.
Devine completed his brilliant brace with a delightful chip over Lange with four minutes remaining. It was his 26th goal of a remarkable season – and there was doubting that Barnet’s potent striking partnership were the difference between these two sides.
FULHAM: Lange; Marshall (Thomas 45), Herrera, Morgan, Moore, Blake (Hamsher 68), McAree (Hamill 54), Cusack, Conroy, Bower, Brooker.
REFEREE: Mike Bailey.
ATTENDANCE: 4,332.
