N Rowland Sports Writer

Since my last entry, a lot has happened. Wins, losses, draws, a couple of postponements and the release of news so exciting its made us all properly dream of a return home. It is never dull at Barnet and the recent happenings have proven that to be true.

After the victories over Dagenham and Radcliffe, was meant to be a game against Chesterfield. However, due to the inclement weather, it was postponed and instead our return to league football was delayed until a jaunt up to Greater Manchester to play Oldham.

Despite many missed chances, we lost the game 2-0 and were left to bemoan our profligacy in front of the goal. A Harry Pritchard chance in the first half appeared a particularly presentable chance, albeit on my stream as I did not attend the game. My only visit to Boundary Park remains the glorious 2-0 win last season, a day I’d like to preserve.

Thankfully, my absence from Barnet away days was brief as the Saturday after, I travelled up to the Northeast for Gateshead away. I woke early and headed to Kings Cross station to meet my travelling companions. We arrived in Newcastle and after a visit to St James’s Park, headed to a lovely riverside pub for pre-game drinks.

A mate of mine from primary school joined us, another addition to the Barnet away day rota. Soon enough, it was time to head to Gateshead International Stadium and find our place in the away end. We started the game well but once again, failed to take our chances and only led 1-0 going into the second half. To add to the frustration, I missed our goal as I was in the loo. Pitfalls of drinking before the game!

Unfortunately, and somewhat inevitably, the Heed equalized and then went on to win the game. It was mightily frustrating and led to some choice words in the direction of Dean Brennan and the team at full-time.

The following Saturday saw the resumption of our rivalry with our neighbours, Wealdstone FC. This game followed a similar pattern with us leading early but not finishing a team off and then as time was nearly up, a moment of rashness from Josh Keeley led to Corie Andrews scoring and earning them a point. A horrible moment in a horrible game against a horrible team. If only Harry Pritchard had stuck away that penalty.

After this, I ventured to Seville on holiday so missed Welling away in the FA Trophy and Fylde away in the league but was most impressed that they were both victories. Fylde away was a particularly good win especially given we went behind early. To score 4 goals away from home against a team in form at that time showed what this team can do.

Whilst it wasn’t the same as being at the game, the reliable Wi-Fi in Seville Airport meant that I was able to follow it closely and celebrated passionately when the notification flashed that Callum Stead had scored our fourth.

This was a highly impressive win and one that I hoped we could build on to earn some much-needed momentum. This victory was followed by a piece of news us Bees fans thought would never come. Whilst having an idle glance at the official Barnet Twitter page, I found out that there are plans very much in place for us to return to the borough of Barnet and on the same site as the old ground. This news got me genuinely emotional and buzzing beyond belief. Its been 14 years since that day at Underhill vs Wycombe Wanderers and ever since, we’ve gurgled round the plughole and become detached from our spiritual home.

So for this news to break so unexpectedly was joyous and sent us as a fanbase into unbridled joy. Obviously, we’re aware that this will be a long process but to have it started and to have the dream planted is enough. Work has already been started by our excellent fan groups, which shows how lucky we are to have them as our representatives.

The night after, we headed to Hampshire for Aldershot away. A night on a terrace under the lights the night after receiving magical news, surely it would be a night to savor. Unfortunately, our performance was timid, and we lost 1-0. We were missing players, but it was a strange one to watch as were the opposite of our usually imposing selves.

It was a night that failed to match the excitement of the day before; there’s something very Barnet about that.

Thankfully, we returned to our winning ways with a win a few days later as we beat York City at home 2-0 with a double from Callum Stead. I missed this game due to having to steward at Arsenal but was mightily relieved that we won and resumed our quest to solidify second or third place.

Unfortunately, the following Tuesday, the now champions Chesterfield came to town and despite our endeavors, taught us a lesson in clinical finishing. We weren’t all that bad, but it was in stark contrast to the earlier months of the season whereby we were ahead of them and appeared as if we would last the course.

A frustrating night and one that ended with a wistful stare in the abyss whilst we contemplated what might have been. The first half missed chances at the Proact in November have never seemed so costly.

On The Saturday after came another jaunt up north, again to the Northeast. This time to Hartlepool. I woke early and headed to Kings Cross where I met with fellow Bees and headed up north.

It was a very enjoyable day out and one that signified what following a football team is all about. There’s something about being miles away from home with a select number of your own fans watching your team battle to a crucial win that will never fail to get me excited.

Despite the smaller following, the away end was most lively, and this was helped by us being 2-0 nil up at half time through a sweet finish by Gatlin O’Donkor and a delicious free kick from Anthony Hartigan. The second half was a more tense affair, but we secured the win and headed home high-spirited.

On the train home, having been moved from our preferred carriage, we settled on another one that also had Wealdstone fans in it. This prompted a sing-off and a jovial exchange of banter. Our noisy neighbours will never fail to baffle and bemuse.

After this, the show continued with a home game against Rochdale in which we ran out 2-0 winners with Callum Stead once again scoring a brace. He has proven himself to have been a very astute signing and someone that certainly enhances our attacking options.

Then, we resumed our affair with the FA Trophy and headed to Hayes Lane to face Bromley in the quarterfinals. It was a game I was both excited and nervous for, and this only increased once we arrived at the ground and saw that the away end would be well-populated.

Unfortunately, our big game curse struck again. We conceded after 1 minute in a manner similar to last season’s collapse at Gateshead and never really recovered. Gatlin O’Donkor had a chance at 1-0 down but that was the extent of our threat, and we bowed out in a meek and disappointing fashion.

Our new goalkeeper, Josh Keeley, divided opinion in the away end as some felt he was at fault for Bromley’s second goal. However, I’m of the opinion that he’s only young and has played well since he came in. Furthermore, Walker’s mistakes this season are sometimes all too easily forgotten. Stick with Keeley, he’s the man.

Our tour of greater London outposts continued the following Saturday when we headed to Woking, and this was another classic case of football ruining a good day out.

I headed to my local train station early and met up with some fellow Bees fans as we ventured to Victoria. After a pleasant train journey, we headed to Wetherspoons and settled in.

Once at the ground, we found our seats and hoped for another victory. Unfortunately, our performance was similar to Bromley. Meek, strange and lacking anything substantial especially in the first half.

We did have a goal harshly ruled out for offside, but a point would have been generous as we were poor all game. A frustrating afternoon but the ‘Final Countdown’ singalong on the terrace in the second half did at least provide some levity.

Fortunately, the next two games saw us return to form. First with a groundout victory at home to Eastleigh on yet another Tuesday night and then a demolition job on Dorking as we won 6-0. A game I missed due to having to attend stewarding training at Arsenal.

The shining sun, goal fest and good atmosphere made me very jealous, but we won and that’s all that matters. It was especially pleasing to see our front three scoring, what a player O’Donkor is. A return to form at a critical time.

After this came a pivotal Easter weekend. Two games in three days, starting with a trip to Solihull on Good Friday. I was unable to attend this one but watched the first half on my phone whilst on a train and followed the second half whilst on a rail replacement bus. Oh the glamour!

I was elated when the news flashed through that Adam Thompson had put us 2-1 up but gutted when I saw Solihull equalized. On reflection, it wasn’t a bad point and one that kept us going. It would be remiss of me not to mention Kabamba’s equalizer for pure skill and quality. We are truly lucky to have him, and should we go up, his plethora of goals will be a large reason why.

The Easter weekend was rounded off with a 3-1 win at home to Oxford City. A game I attended thankfully and enjoyed.

Oxford City were already relegated but nonetheless, it was a professional performance and one in which yet again, our strikers scored. If only O’Donkor had come in earlier.

This win means that we are very nearly there in terms of securing 2^nd and therefore a home tie in the playoffs semi-finals. Before that date with destiny, there are 4 league games left of this exhausting, emotional, enjoyable season.

This odyssey could yet have a very special ending and its beyond exciting to think about but its also nerve-wracking too. A one-off game at home to go to Wembley is so un-Barnet that it feels almost other-worldly.

Its new territory for I and similarly aged Barnet fans. I’ve no idea what will happen hence why these last 4 games need to be enjoyed before the unbearable tension kicks in. Get me to the Shay on Saturday 13^th April.

4 more games. Then the play-offs. This football club is going places, but a final on a sun-kissed day at Wembley has proved elusive. No heartbreak this year please lads.

You Bees x