FULLTIME: Barnet 1 Town 1 (AET Barnet win 2-0 on penalties)
TOWN blew a one-goal lead and man advantage to crash out of the FA Cup after a humiliating penalty shootout at Underhill.
Maurice Malpas' men missed an amazing four spot-kicks in the shootout as Barnet booked their place in the fourth round against Bristol Rovers, who came through their own shootout against Premier League Fulham.
Billy Paynter's second half own goal had seen the 10-man hosts take Town into extra time.
Paynter's cool 41st minute strike gave Town a deserved half time lead in the third round replay at Barnet.
But the striker diverted Jason Puncheon's cross into his own net soon after the break.
Michael Leary was dismissed for a heavy tackle on Sofi Zaaboub midway through the second half but Town were unable to make the breakthrough.
And they paid the price in the shootout as Paynter, sub Christian Roberts, skipper Hasney Aljofree and defender Miguel Comminges all missed from 12 yards.
Barnet skipper Ismail Yakubu also missed, but subs Anthony Thomas and Joe O'Cearuill netted to win it for the League Two side.
Midfielder Michael Pook was handed his first start for Town in more than a month as Town looked to see off their lower league opponents at the second attempt.
Pook replaced Craig Easton, who was forced out by a calf strain picked up in Saturday's 2-1 league win over Nottingham Forest, in the only change by boss Maurice Malpas at Underhill.
With a healthy away following, Town started brightly with left winger Sofi Zaaboub a constant danger for League Two Barnet.
On 14 minutes the Frenchman found Billy Paynter with an inswinging cross but the former Port Vale man headed wide.
Barnet hit back with Adam Birchall bravely denied by goalkeeper Peter Brezovan after being put on clear on goal by a hopeful Barnet clearance.
With the game swinging from end to end, Zaaboub should have given Town the lead minutes later, after some clever interplay between Blair Sturrock and Paynter, but his shot cum cross was cleared off the line by Michael Leary.
The lively Zaaboub then saw his cut back from the bye line just evade the onrushing Lee Peacock, while at the other end Ismail Yakubu's header was easy for Brezovan.
Zaaboub, at the centre of all Town's best moves, then slotted Sturrock clear through on goal but his low strike was skewed wide on 19 minutes.
Cliff Akurang then thought he had won a penalty after rounding Brezovan but the referee rightly waved play on as he lost his feet on the muddy surface.
Town continued taking the game to their hosts and on 27 minutes, Zaaboub's low strike from 20 yards was just side footed wide by Lee Peacock.
Jason Puncheon then saw an audacious 45-yard volley fly just over Brezovan, while Akurang should have done better when he headed over from close range.
Town finally broke the deadlock on 41 minutes when Paynter coolly sloted home from more Zaaboub approach play.
Playing down the legendary Underhill slope in the second half, Barnet pushed forward and were almost rewarded instantly when Puncheon's cross hit Akurang yards out from goal but Comminges was able to hack clear off the line.
The equaliser did come on 53 minutes though when Puncheon's right wing cross was diverted into his own net by Billy Paynter.
Trying to make amends, Town's striker then saw three efforts hit wide in the next 10 minutes, one of which should have hit the target after racing clear on goal.
The tie erupted on 73 minutes when Michael Leary saw red for a heavy tackle on Zaaboub, which saw the wideman stretchered off to be replaced by Christian Roberts. To be fair to Leary, he did get some of the ball but tackling with two feet left the referee no choice.
Town pressed forward in search of the winner and Barry Corr was unlucky to see his strike diverted just wide on 81 minutes.
Paynter then saw a goal-bound shot from close range brilliantly blocked by goalkeeper Rob Beckwith on 87 minutes while the keeper denied Roberts minutes later.
Town: Peter Brezovan, Miguel Comminges, Jerel Ifil, Hasney Aljofree (capt), Jamie Vincent; Jon-Paul McGovern, Michael Pook, Lee Peacock, Sofiene Zaaboub, Billy Paynter, Blair Sturrock.
Substitutes: Phil Smith, Andy Nicholas, Steve Adams, Barry Corr, Christian Roberts.
Barnet: Rob Beckwith, Joe Devera, Max Porter, Kenny Gillet, Ismail Yakubu, Neal Bishop, Michael Leary, Nicky Nicolau, Jason Puncheon, Cliff Akurang, Adam Birchall.
Subs: Lee Harrison, Anthony Thomas, Giuliano Grazioli, Ian Hendon, Joe O'Cearuill.
Referee: Andy Penn
9:46pm Tuesday 22nd January 2008
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CommentPosted by: ashmie, Swindon on 11:18pm Tue 22 Jan 08
Just listened to the Town fail to score from the spot in 4 attempts. Apparently the boys don't "seriously practice" taking penalties in training. Here's a thought guys, if you think there's a decent chance you'll need to take one in the next game, have a little practice. Who knows, you might even manage to bag the odd one. (Hasney, it's the big white rectangle you're aiming for, mate.)
Just listened to the Town fail to score from the spot in 4 attempts. Apparently the boys don't "seriously practice" taking penalties in training. Here's a thought guys, if you think there's a decent chance you'll need to take one in the next game, have a little practice. Who knows, you might even manage to bag the odd one. (Hasney, it's the big white rectangle you're aiming for, mate.)
Posted by: danielsan, London on 11:56pm Tue 22 Jan 08
Jesus wept, it's an FA cup replay with the possibility of penalties and they haven't practiced. What kind of amateur outfit are we running? I just got back from the game and I don't know what team anyone else saw against Forest but this one isn't going anywhere this season! Do yourself a favour guys if you do make the playoffs, just think about the cash and throw the final away - cos if we go up against that lot next season it'll be like our year in the Premiership all over again. Pook, Sturrock and Zaboob don't even belong in division 1. Sorry sorry performance, embarrassing really - just like our game there last year.
Jesus wept, it's an FA cup replay with the possibility of penalties and they haven't practiced. What kind of amateur outfit are we running? I just got back from the game and I don't know what team anyone else saw against Forest but this one isn't going anywhere this season! Do yourself a favour guys if you do make the playoffs, just think about the cash and throw the final away - cos if we go up against that lot next season it'll be like our year in the Premiership all over again. Pook, Sturrock and Zaboob don't even belong in division 1. Sorry sorry performance, embarrassing really - just like our game there last year.
Posted by: avalonmoon, swindon on 12:08am Wed 23 Jan 08
looks like the team have been neglecting the practice of taking penalties. So maybe penalty training is in order. You would think that the taking of penalties would be a natural part of training, but obviously not!!
looks like the team have been neglecting the practice of taking penalties. So maybe penalty training is in order. You would think that the taking of penalties would be a natural part of training, but obviously not!!
Posted by: hanneyred on 12:49am Wed 23 Jan 08
Just hope Zaaboubs injury isnt as bad as it looks.... I know he crys when he gets mud in his eye, but he did look in a lot of pain, and seeing him being taken into the ambulance during the second half looked a bit worrying
Just hope Zaaboubs injury isnt as bad as it looks.... I know he crys when he gets mud in his eye, but he did look in a lot of pain, and seeing him being taken into the ambulance during the second half looked a bit worrying
Posted by: stuart randall, port de soller -mallorca on 6:52am Wed 23 Jan 08
I also trust and hope Zaaboubs injury is not a serious one, we were listening on the PC and it sounded iffy, as to the team words cannot express what I feel, to go a goal up have a man advantage and finally screw up on penalties, all I can say is how can after a performance against forrest why this "Not proffessional" inany shape or form, as to getting cox go for that guy Punchin, he did the business made us look stupid, agin we lose out on cup revenue, lets hope we can consolidate and stay in division 1(listening to last night thats all we can hope for) play offs I doubt very much, good luck against Crewe on Sat(you will nee[bold]bold[/bold] d it)
I also trust and hope Zaaboubs injury is not a serious one, we were listening on the PC and it sounded iffy, as to the team words cannot express what I feel, to go a goal up have a man advantage and finally screw up on penalties, all I can say is how can after a performance against forrest why this "Not proffessional" inany shape or form, as to getting cox go for that guy Punchin, he did the business made us look stupid, agin we lose out on cup revenue, lets hope we can consolidate and stay in division 1(listening to last night thats all we can hope for) play offs I doubt very much, good luck against Crewe on Sat(you will nee d it)
Posted by: Saint, chippenham on 7:04am Wed 23 Jan 08
Welcome to Swindon Mr Malpas. You have seen the two sides of the team within 4 days. Over 700 travelling fans have to endure this rubbish against a second division (but not second rate) side who we SHOULD have rolled over at a canter. You have your work cut out to fashion a decent side out of the players you inherited. Hopefully with your new signings to replace the likes of Pook, Roberts (who should never pull the red shirt over their heads again) and a couple of others who had diabolical games last night, we will become the team we showed we can be against Forest !! Best of Luck, You will need it. Us supporters expected nothing less than a humiliation last night although it was the last thing we wanted !!
Welcome to Swindon Mr Malpas. You have seen the two sides of the team within 4 days. Over 700 travelling fans have to endure this rubbish against a second division (but not second rate) side who we SHOULD have rolled over at a canter. You have your work cut out to fashion a decent side out of the players you inherited. Hopefully with your new signings to replace the likes of Pook, Roberts (who should never pull the red shirt over their heads again) and a couple of others who had diabolical games last night, we will become the team we showed we can be against Forest !! Best of Luck, You will need it. Us supporters expected nothing less than a humiliation last night although it was the last thing we wanted !!
Posted by: Carikey, Swine Town on 8:45am Wed 23 Jan 08
even without practice you'd think one of them would have scored! You could take 4 blokes off the street and one would score.
even without practice you'd think one of them would have scored! You could take 4 blokes off the street and one would score.
Posted by: ivan, Bath on 10:40am Wed 23 Jan 08
Message to MR malpas.
Yes you need to off load players-Pook-Roberts
-
Ady Williams(he is not a coach and we have plenty of cover now at the back)Adams- Mohammed .Last nights performance why did Barry Core not take the first pen what was your coaching staff doing or don't we have a proper coach who can motivate men not boys!
We are all very upset for the new board you and your management team cost the club at least £150000 last night I just hope A Fitton and the board call a review meeting as performances,sidelin
e tatics& subs,have been a concern since PS left last night highlighted
how weak messrs Byrne/Williams are ! you need to think again .
Like all true Swindon supporters we will dust ourselves down after last night go to Crewe on
Saturday but please review your playing and backroom staff quickly and sort out!!
Message to MR malpas.
Yes you need to off load players-Pook-Roberts
-
Ady Williams(he is not a coach and we have plenty of cover now at the back)Adams- Mohammed .Last nights performance why did Barry Core not take the first pen what was your coaching staff doing or don't we have a proper coach who can motivate men not boys!
We are all very upset for the new board you and your management team cost the club at least £150000 last night I just hope A Fitton and the board call a review meeting as performances,sidelin
e tatics& subs,have been a concern since PS left last night highlighted
how weak messrs Byrne/Williams are ! you need to think again .
Like all true Swindon supporters we will dust ourselves down after last night go to Crewe on
Saturday but please review your playing and backroom staff quickly and sort out!!
Posted by: malcolm goul;d, Swindon on 11:10am Wed 23 Jan 08
Hard to believe that not one of the professional players in our team last night could get the ball in the net, during the penalty shoot out. The town should have won in the ninety minutes. There is certanily a need for the new manager to look closely at the team. It was not his fault how the present team failed to perform. Barnet were obviously the better side even with tem men, but how many sides have we seen perform better than Swindon. And said the same comment We can only hope Maurice Malpas can find a solution to the Swindon Town Syndrome. I wish him The Very Best of Luck. The club is now stable surely there can be no excuses now, for any distractions or excuses for their performances on the pitch.
Hard to believe that not one of the professional players in our team last night could get the ball in the net, during the penalty shoot out. The town should have won in the ninety minutes. There is certanily a need for the new manager to look closely at the team. It was not his fault how the present team failed to perform. Barnet were obviously the better side even with tem men, but how many sides have we seen perform better than Swindon. And said the same comment We can only hope Maurice Malpas can find a solution to the Swindon Town Syndrome. I wish him The Very Best of Luck. The club is now stable surely there can be no excuses now, for any distractions or excuses for their performances on the pitch.
Posted by: PJACE1, Chard on 11:50am Wed 23 Jan 08
did anyone actuly hit the target in those 4 attempts or did they stare as tho the penalty spot was abit bumpy for an excuse...fact is 0/4 pens is very poor,barnet only got 2 themselves,dont tell me our players bottled it we were playing Barnet not Man U
did anyone actuly hit the target in those 4 attempts or did they stare as tho the penalty spot was abit bumpy for an excuse...fact is 0/4 pens is very poor,barnet only got 2 themselves,dont tell me our players bottled it we were playing Barnet not Man U
Posted by: BWB, SWINDON on 1:10pm Wed 23 Jan 08
Bl***y ametures.
CUT their wages by half and they would still be OVERPAID.
a open goal,and they still cant score.
Perhaps they should take up DOMINOES.
Never mind they will look better In DIV 3
Bl***y ametures.
CUT their wages by half and they would still be OVERPAID.
a open goal,and they still cant score.
Perhaps they should take up DOMINOES.
Never mind they will look better In DIV 3
Posted by: steve-o, Swindon on 1:54pm Wed 23 Jan 08
[quote][bold]BWB[/bold] wrote:
Bl***y ametures. CUT their wages by half and they would still be OVERPAID. a open goal,and they still cant score. Perhaps they should take up DOMINOES. Never mind they will look better In DIV 3[/quote] Kin more than half mate, they owe next one for **** all!!!
BWB wrote:
Bl***y ametures. CUT their wages by half and they would still be OVERPAID. a open goal,and they still cant score. Perhaps they should take up DOMINOES. Never mind they will look better In DIV 3
Kin more than half mate, they owe next one for **** all!!!
Posted by: Swindon_till_I_die, Bangor North Wales on 2:28pm Wed 23 Jan 08
I can't believe that we were not practicing penalties,especially as we've had so much trouble scoring from open play.Whoever is responsable you owe us big time.Rovers at home in front of a bumper crowd and then a lucrative 5th round tie could have set us up nicely for a couple of seasons.Get your f**king act together **sholes.I don't EVER want to see my team laughed at and ridiculed on Sky sports again!!!!!!!
I can't believe that we were not practicing penalties,especially as we've had so much trouble scoring from open play.Whoever is responsable you owe us big time.Rovers at home in front of a bumper crowd and then a lucrative 5th round tie could have set us up nicely for a couple of seasons.Get your f**king act together **sholes.I don't EVER want to see my team laughed at and ridiculed on Sky sports again!!!!!!!
Posted by: PJACE1, Chard on 2:45pm Wed 23 Jan 08
if i was in charge last night i would have left the players in the car park and took the team coach home without them
if i was in charge last night i would have left the players in the car park and took the team coach home without them
Posted by: stfcgirlie, swindon on 3:02pm Wed 23 Jan 08
my 8 year old son practises penalties all the flamin time!
my 8 year old son practises penalties all the flamin time!
Posted by: josh_ maguire, braford on avon on 4:01pm Wed 23 Jan 08
well lets take the postives Billy Paynter scored for us!! and then for them!! Does this mean he knows where the net is now?
But then again its against lower league oppostion!
Cant score pens how?
All you need to do is hit the target and you have a chance of scoring!!!
well lets take the postives Billy Paynter scored for us!! and then for them!! Does this mean he knows where the net is now?
But then again its against lower league oppostion!
Cant score pens how?
All you need to do is hit the target and you have a chance of scoring!!!
Posted by: clive elliott, bradford on 5:15pm Wed 23 Jan 08
proffesional football players on serious money every week and cant kick a ball from a spot kick, now is the time the axe falls on the players who just cant be bothered with the club, malpass get your finger out and get rid of the wasters now
proffesional football players on serious money every week and cant kick a ball from a spot kick, now is the time the axe falls on the players who just cant be bothered with the club, malpass get your finger out and get rid of the wasters now
Posted by: moonchild, swindon on 5:46pm Wed 23 Jan 08
The penalty misses had to happen!
[bold]C[/bold] omminges
[bold]R[/bold] oberts
[bold]A[/bold] ljofree
[bold]P[/bold] aynter
The penalty misses had to happen!
C omminges
R oberts
A ljofree
P aynter
Posted by: Swindon AOK on 9:15pm Wed 23 Jan 08
It's another total embarrassment for Swindon.
Some of these players MUST GO!
:(
It's another total embarrassment for Swindon.
Some of these players MUST GO!
:(
Posted by: steveg, swindon on 9:30pm Wed 23 Jan 08
hopefully the new manager will re access the squad of players he has and remove the five or six "prima donnas"who have been around for far too long!!this was all down too players not wanting it enough and only playing when they feel like it bloody frustrating after playing so well against forest!! dissapointing not to progress to the next round.[bold]bold[/bold]
hopefully the new manager will re access the squad of players he has and remove the five or six "prima donnas"who have been around for far too long!!this was all down too players not wanting it enough and only playing when they feel like it bloody frustrating after playing so well against forest!! dissapointing not to progress to the next round.
Posted by: 02hodgsol, mighty highworth! on 10:01pm Wed 23 Jan 08
every time swindon lose, the players who played should get docked £500 off there wages, unless it was a gd performance
every time swindon lose, the players who played should get docked £500 off there wages, unless it was a gd performance
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