Nuneaton Borough 2

Barnet 3

Nationwide Conference

Nuneaton had won seven of their eight previous league games at Manor Park, including the last five, and were expected to prove a tough nut to crack.

But their hopes of extending the sequence were dashed by Ben Strevens, Barnet's talented 21-year-old striker, with a superb hat-trick in the first 14 minutes on Saturday.

The Bees had a let-off in the first minute when Lee Charles shot over with the goal at his mercy.

Two minutes later, Strevens opened his account in spectacular style, lofting the ball high over stranded keeper Chris Mackenzie from 25 yards.

Strevens struck again two minutes later, steering in a cross from the right by Wayne Purser, following a neat move.

Lee Harrison saved well from Marc McGregor's header, before Strevens completed his hat-trick in the 14th minute.

Neil Midgley followed good work on the right with a cross for Strevens to head home.

Barnet had an escape when a 35-yard drive from Alex Sykes beat Harrison's dive, but hit the post.

Nuneaton replied after 36 minutes when Sykes tapped the ball aside from a free-kick for Warren Peyton to fire in.

After McGregor fired Nuneaton's second goal in the 78th minute, the Bees defended magnificently, but it needed a tremendous save by Harrison to prevent Michael Love grabbing a last-minute equaliser for Nuneaton.

BARNET: Harrison; Gledhill, Heald, Arber, Flynn; Purser, (Berkley 58), Niven, Sawyers, Gower; Strevens, Midgley (Essandoh 46). Subs not used: Brown, Puck, Naisbitt.

Attendance: 1,644. Man of the match: Strevens.

November 7, 2001 19:54