Sparkes provides the spark as Bees labour to victory over Stockport

Posted Monday, December 03, 2018 by PA

An early goal by Barnet winger Dan Sparkes was enough to fire his team into the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2008 with a 1-0 win over Stockport.

Barnet’s bright start was rewarded when they took the lead in the eighth minute, with Cheye Alexander’s pinpoint delivery from the right flank headed home by Sparkes.

The hosts created numerous openings in the first half but with Dan Sweeney and Byron Harrison wasteful, Stockport went into the break trailing by just a solitary goal.

County, backed by an enthusiastic following of over 1500 – more than half of the total attendance – had failed to trouble the Bees in the first half.

But with the wind in their favour, the visitors were a different proposition after the turnaround, frequently laying siege to the Barnet goal.

On the break, Josh Walker did go close to extending Barnet’s lead but his powerful drive from distance was acrobatically tipped over the bar by County goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe.

An Ash Palmer header in the 80th minute was the closest the visitors would come to an equaliser, with the Barnet rearguard holding firm under intense pressure as John Still’s troops sealed their progress.