Rochdale 0 Barnet 0

Tony Cottee, Barnet's new player-manager, sat out Saturday's match at rain-lashed Spotland, taking another opportunity to take stock of his charges.

Rochdale 0 Barnet 0

Tony Cottee, Barnet's new player-manager, sat out Saturday's match at rain-lashed Spotland, taking another opportunity to take stock of his charges.

'I've spent too much time in the office since joining last Wednesday, and didn't think about playing,' he said.

'Besides, the lads had a great result the previous week in beating Lincoln 4-3 after being 3-0 down, and I am still getting to know them.

'I thought we battled well in difficult conditions and it was a good start. Rochdale are a strong side, pushing for a play-off place, and were unbeaten in their previous six matches. I am happy with a draw.'

'It was a journey into the unknown for me ,, I've never been to Rochdale before, and we left Barnet not knowing whether the game was on.'

After a night of heavy rain, the go-ahead was given after an 8.30am inspection, with a proviso that it would be called off if the rain persisted.

As the players did their warm ups, half an hour before the kick-off there was another downpour.

Barnet's defence performed magnificently, with Mark Arber and Warren Goodhind outstanding, halting lively Rochdale's raids with well-judged interceptions. And with John Doolan also did his bit, providing a defensive cover from midfield.

Following a long lay-off after sustaining a broken leg in an FA Cup match at Hednesford two years ago, Goodhind is beginning to show the form that led to him becoming Barnet's youngest ever captain at 21, before the terrible mishap.

Rochdale's Paul Ware was menacing with his darting runs, and threatened to open the scoring when he swept past three opponents, but cool Arber stopped him dead in his tracks.

Omer Riza looked set to repeat his superb goal for the Bees against Lincoln, when he jinked past two opponents, but this time his shot flew wide.

Rochdale were rampant early in the second half, going close on several occasions. Mark Mannington's header rebounded from the bar, and Barnet keeper Danny Naisbitt made a spectacular save from Lee Todd's free-kick.

Barnet, the only side to achieve an away win over leaders Chesterfield, might well have added the scalp of third-placed Rochdale. But their appeals for a 71st minute penalty, when Dale's defender Wayne Evans made a dubious challenge on Darren Currie, were turned down by referee David Laws.

BARNET: Naisbitt; Stockley, Heald, Goodhind, Arber; Doolan, Niven, Toms, Currie; Richards (McGleish, 65), Riza.Subs not used: Harrison, Brown, Bell, Gledhill. Man of the match: Arber. Attendance: 3,659.