After a start of fluctuation, there was a consensus as we headed into the autumn that a winning run had to be concocted, and we had to go top of the league. This felt like the only way to stave off the heavyweights of York City and Forest Green Rovers.
Therefore, as we headed to Ruislip and Wealdstone away on Saturday 21st September, excitement and possibility was abound at what could happen should we win at the ramshackle shed that is Grosvenor Vale.
I met up with a mate of mine and headed to North-West London via a convoluted route due to the suspension of the Metropolitan Line. Eventually, we arrived and filed into the away end. It was a pleasant day, and I was feeling optimistic.
After a lengthy feeling wait before kick-off, the game started, and the first half was cagey, but we looked comfortable enough and the onus was on us to score first.
Soon into the second half, Mark Shelton converted a penalty, and this prompted jubilation in the away end. This sparked a glorious rest of the game and soon after Shelton’s penalty, Stead scored from a corner and the game was ours.
There was even time for our talisman, Nicke Kabamba, to score and send us top of the league. The realization across the away end was beautiful and the classic ‘We’re top of the league’ chant to the tune of ‘Back in my life’ by Alice Deejay was belted out.
It was far more enjoyable than our last visit to Grosvenor Vale and the taunting of some Wealdstone fans on our way out was a humorous end. A glorious night.
The relentlessness of the league continued the following Tuesday when we headed to Aldershot and hoped our winning form would continue. It was a slightly more low-key affair than Saturday but nonetheless enjoyable.
Kabamba continued his good return from injury by heading home from a cross and this caused another rush to the front and another bang on some advertising hoardings.
The rest of the game was a tad uneventful which was strange as Aldershot went down to ten men, but we adopted a defensive style of play and ground out a victory. We filed out the ground with yet another three points.
It wasn’t a game we’ll be rushing to remember but nonetheless, an enjoyable evening and there’s something quite special about Tuesday night away games regardless of the distance.
The following Saturday, we hosted AFC Fylde at home and this game was selected as the football for a fiver game. This paved the way for a heftier crowd, especially in block B, which has been rather sparsely populated over the last few seasons.
It was a frustrating watch for large parts as we pushed and pushed but couldn’t open the scoring until Nicke Kabamba opened the scoring with a rather fortunate goal. In this season of having to get promoted, however the goals come I’ll take them.
A second goal was added through Callum Stead in the 95th minute and yet another win was recorded. In a season as lengthy as ours, there will be wins like this one whereby they are not particularly memorable, but they are necessary and add to the tapestry of a season.
The home games continued the following Saturday when we hosted Boston United at home. I had never seen us play Boston before, so this added intrigue to the fixture. We failed to start well and conceded due to some poor defending and clinical finishing.
However, our imperiousness at home resumed after half time when Callum Stead equalized after half-time, Nik Tavares put us ahead and Kabamba rounded it off with a delectable finish. It was an impressive victory given we were behind at half time but there was a sense that as soon as we scored one, we’d win.
Our home form has been brilliant so far this season and given our questionable away form it has to continue. Another very enjoyable Saturday following the Bees.
Annoyingly, the league stopped on Saturday 12th October to allow for the resumption of the FA Cup. We hosted Chelmsford at home in the fourth qualifying round and pleasingly, it was a very relaxing Saturday afternoon.
Chelmsford had a chance early on but from then on, we were dominant. Stead scored twice, Ryan Glover added a third and Zak Brunt made it 4. I actually missed two of our goals due to being in the toilet and getting food, but I’ve since seen the highlights and they were lovely to watch.
Exeter City awaits in the first round, a draw that has attracted some criticism from several Barnet fans, but I’ve never been to Exeter so I’m actually quite looking forward to it. I don’t expect anything, but you never know, a draw like last season at Newport would be very welcome.
Thankfully, the league recommenced on Saturday 19th October with Solihull Moors away. I was very kindly offered a lift, so we arrived in Solihull after a very pleasant drive and sauntered to a local pub for some lunch and drink.
After a lovely meal and drink up, we headed to the ground. Damson Park is an odd one given its in the middle of nowhere situated near an airport and a motorway. But there were a sizeable number of Bees that filed into the away end and the songs rang out prior to kick off.
It was satisfying to hear some new songs as well as the old classics; these players are largely giving us a wonderful ride and they deserve to be given songs.
The game started well, and Kabamba opened the scoring, a goal that prompted some joyous scenes in the away end. There was a feeling that we could go on and win this game comfortably. However, for reasons I’m yet to fathom, we seemed to freeze and went on to lose the game 4-3.
Despite a late rally, our performance from their equalizer onwards was particularly poor, especially defensively.
The Tuesday after, I headed up to York via a very generous lift and a stayover in a Travelodge. Frustratingly, our performance was worryingly similar to the one we witnessed at Damson Park. We started well, went 1-0 up but then conceded a sloppy goal right before half-time and went on to lose 3-1.
Anger and annoyance was abounded in the away end as a lot of us were at both games and witnessed the same errors repeated. It is unquestionable that York are a good side, but we supposedly are, and I felt we surrendered to them.
243 Bees travelled up and unfortunately, our loyalty was unrewarded. However, it was an enjoyable stay over and York is a lovely place.
Generally, our season is going well but after a winning run of 6 in a row, to lose two critical games in a row is disappointing. We simply don’t win enough important games especially away from home.
This isn’t just a Brennan issue as it predates him, but he has been at the helm for a lot of the defeats. It must change as we have to start winning away from home more regularly.
But I’m still very much enjoying watching the Bees and there is still something very pleasing about the games being so regular and going to all of them. Don’t ever take going to football for granted.
The season continues, and hopefully our good form will restart.
You Bees x
N Rowland Sports Writer 
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