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Max Bygraves' Story Of 2010-2011 - Part Eight
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Mad Dog's Got Us Buzzing Again!
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By:
Max Bygraves
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19/05/2011
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April 2-10th
The surreal nature of recent events at Barnet FC still hadn’t really come to make sense by the time the next game came around, a trip to Burton Albion. As we finished the last bit off with, Burton won their midweek game in hand to go into this five points above Barnet. A defeat here and it would surely be curtains, we simply had to get something, for a straw to clutch at still, if nothing else.
The sun was out and a good number of us were on the early train out of Euston, via Tamworth, arriving in Burton just after midday due to a few hold ups. Despite the fact I hadn’t seen a Barnet away win (in a proper game) for 14 months, there was certainly a sense of belief we could get something here. Maybe it was the beer, but anyway, we arrived at the Pirelli in high spirits.
By half time things were a little different. 1-0 down and the performance hadn’t been the best. However, unlike the rest of the season up to now, this didn’t cause me to lose faith. A Martin Allen team talk? The team shooting towards the noisy travelling contingent in the second half? There was life in this yet!
Certainly so. Early in the second half, Kabba burned the Albion defence for pace to poke home an equaliser, moments after McLeod had gone awfully close, hitting the bar. This galvanised the team and indeed the decent support behind the goal. One soon became two, in fine fashion. The most delicious of dinked finishes by Kabba. One of those which seemed to take an age to actually hit the net. Then, when it does? Absolute bedlam. This was getting bloody good...and there was soon more to come.
Just minutes after going in front, a massive chance to gain a two goal lead. Sam Deering’s trickery was too much for the Burton defence. Foul. Penalty! Up steps Steve Kabba, he’s never scored a hat trick before. Is this a turning point in our season? I remember being stood right down the front behind the goal. I’m not religious, but I had my hands in prayer and I was praying to something this hit the net. So nervous. Come on Stevie...GET IN THERE!!!
Even wilder scenes than the second goal. The players coming right over to the travelling support, absolutely loving it. Dreamland. Surely this was it? Wrong.
Burton weren’t really threatening to get back into it, but at 1-3 there was still a possibility. At 1-4, it really was game over and time to enjoy the moment. A superb bit of play on the left by Marshall followed by a teasing low cross was met by – yep- Kabba. His fourth of the day. Severe bundles on the terrace behind the goal, again.
These were brilliant scenes. So many of the players coming right over to the Barnet lot behind the goal. This lot looked like they were really starting to care. Little Sammy Deering singing “we are staying up!” whilst dancing around his team mates. Jude Stirling roaring with delight in a game Allen fooled us all in, declaring him injured on the website in the build up, just to trick Burton. Mark Byrne, back for a second spell at the club, absolutely loving it. All of these? Loan players! All of a sudden there seemed to be a real ‘in this together’ sense about the side. These lads wanted it and my word they were showing it!
The last fifteen minutes of play were just a big sing song. This was fun. We hadn’t had an away game like this in a seriously long time and we were there to enjoy it. Full time brought more scenes we hadn’t seen for a long time. Real affinity between players, staff and fans. All the players and those on the bench (except the manager – saying he didn’t want to take any credit) came right across to salute the Barnet faithful. Extended mutual applause back and forth.
Standing on that terrace at the Pirelli, still trying to comprehend I had just seen Barnet win a massive game in our survival battle 4-1, away, I felt an enormous sense of pride. What a display. Where had this feeling been for so long? This is why I support Barnet! An unbelievable day. I rounded it off by going to visit a mate in Birmingham and getting so drunk I was thrown out of a club in the early hours for being, according to a bouncer who led me out, “too pissed.” Well, when was the last time we won 4-1 away!? Had to celebrate it properly!
The next week seemed to fly by. Personally, it was my last week at work before an 18 day holiday (have a guess what profession I’m in!), but more than anything I was looking forward to being at Underhill the following Saturday for the visit of Crewe. They’d won the Saturday before too. Like Barnet, in convincing fashion. However, slightly more convincingly. Crewe 8-1 Cheltenham, this the same Crewe that had beat us 7-0 back in August. I kept reminding myself that if they were that good, they wouldn’t be mid-table, but it was a little un-nerving, to say the least. Like every game at the moment, this was must-win. Meaning it would need to be our second win on the trot. Something Barnet hadn’t achieved since October 2009. Well, it had to happen sometime!
The weird new sense of positivity and optimism around Underhill could certainly once again be felt in the glorious early April sunshine on the day of the game. With a stinking hangover and a head full of frustration about a woman simply acting like a woman the previous night, I arrived at Underhill and quickly put all that to one side – this all felt more important!
The crowd was up a little in terms of home fans and the atmosphere was once again of a decent standard as “Martin Allen’s black and amber army!” boomed out of the East Terrace. The place was certainly rocking just twenty six minutes in, as Barnet had already raced into a two goal lead courtesy of Daniel Leach’s first goal for the club and yet another strike by Izale McLeod. However, just before the break, Crewe won a contentious penalty. Their deadly striker Clayton Donaldson duly converted the spot kick, one of twenty eight League 2 goals for him during the season, and set up a nervy second half.
The second forty five was tense indeed. Deering had gone off at the break, presumably due to some sort of injury and the Bees creative spark seemed to go with him. This was all about battling and holding on now and perhaps nicking one on the break. Thankfully, the Alex played like a team in their position. Nothing to really play for, the effort didn’t quite look all there. Yet there was to be a late twist. Young goalkeeper Sam Walker, in only his third appearance for Barnet saw red in the 90th minute for throwing the ball away after a decision had been given against Barnet. It was his second booking, the other for time wasting.
Straight away, Liam O’Brien was readied to take his place in goal, young Charlie Taylor who’d only been on the pitch a matter of five minutes was unluckily hauled off for the ‘keeper to go on in his place. Credit where it’s due, this was done with minimal fuss, the forward clearly appreciating that a whole team effort was now required. Crewe sensed an equaliser and pressed forward, as the board went up indicating there would be four additional minutes. They had one chance. It came in the 94th minute of the allocated 94. A free kick was delivered into the box, bounced, missed everyone and seemed destined for the top corner...only for Liam O’Brien to add his part to the story of any great escape we may be on our way to achieving. A superb fingertip save from the young goalkeeper sent the ball over the bar for a corner. This was dealt with and moments later, three sharp blows of the referee’s whistle which had not sounded so sweet for a long time. We’d done it!
Back to back wins for the first time in something like ninety competitive games, off the top of my head I think it was 83. But don’t quote me on that. The sense of relief around Underhill was clear for all to see. Relief and of course, sheer joy. Once again, there was a great ovation for the players from all sides of the ground. This set of players who we’d grown so fed up of, so apathetic towards were winning us back. Results elsewhere weren’t bad. We remained 23rd, but each week we seemed to be giving ourselves just that tiny bit more of a chance of pulling this off. We definitely had Burton and Northampton in our sights now.
Martin Allen was a Barnet hero once more. Seven points from a possible nine. Three enthralling games to watch and he’d got the players playing with passion and enthusiasm which was equally being matched by the fans in the stand. It hadn’t felt so good to be associated with Barnet Football Club for longer than I care to pinpoint, it was just brilliant. Even if we did go down after all this, at least we were now showing some fight and pride. In Martin we trust, if anyone could get us out of this situation, it had to be him.
Next up we were going to face a very tough trip to promotion chasing Bury. Under Allen though? We had a chance, of course we did! I think I speak for all Barnet fans when I say we ended that weekend all very much back in love with the club and all with the highest regard for Mr Martin Allen. But this is Barnet, we love a story, what was to come next was simply astonishing...
Click here for Part Nine
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