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Who Are They?
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Pleasingly routine
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By:
Max Bygraves
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05/10/2025
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This article has been viewed 468 times.
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It’s a lazy headline but a fail safe for an occasion such as this against them. This wasn’t our best performance since returning to League 2 but it was perhaps the most comfortable. A relatively stress-free afternoon, three more points and into the top ten.
Accrington Stanley are a side whose story I quite like and respect their consistent punching above their weight efforts. However, if it makes sense to say it after that - I don’t like them. Over time, this has seemingly always been a pretty miserable opponent. Having witnessed an array of disappointments against them both in North London and Lancashire, this was not one that jumped off the fixtures page.
It does provide an interesting perspective as a Barnet fan when we face Accrington. Despite the many losses over the years, I always fancy us to beat them because of who they are. They’re a small club that continually defy the odds yet always look like a winnable fixture. Aware of how that sounds, but it’s true. It’s how I imagine the majority of clubs see us and why we boil the piss quite so much of the likes of Southend, Oldham and so on when we beat them. The shame of losing to Barnet or, indeed, Accrington.
Fair play to them, it’s 20 years this season since they followed on from us and won the Conference title to make a long awaited return to the Football League. We’ve now played against them in three different spells in the fourth tier for us, whilst they’ve remained a constant in the 92 since 2006. They even spent a few years in League 1 having won the League 2 title in 2018, returning to this level in 2023. You don’t have to like them, but there is a fair bit to be admired. All while playing at a dated, ramshackle venue in the heart of their community. Don’t worry, I won’t. Another time.
Barnet started the game brightly and were the better team from the early exchanges on. Accrington’s away shirt the most eye-catching contribution from them. A touch of the Leeds United early 90s admiral about it. Though it looked a bit like a paint splat across the lower region of it, still one of the better efforts witnessed this season so far.
Callum Stead had got off the mark for the season in the farcical, glorified friendly against Brighton U21 midweek. It had clearly done his confidence no harm and he was involved in everything. An early effort went straight at the keeper and not long after, Ndlovu couldn’t quite stretch enough to connect. But it felt like something was on the way. Quick one on Ndlovu - has he ever won a header for us? I don’t mean it as a criticism. As I said last time, he fits brilliantly for us but it was something I was left to ponder after several times in this one where he didn’t.
On twenty one minutes, Stead got his first proper goal of the season in fine style. Kanu’s cross was deflected but the Bees number 10 reacted intelligently and finished with aplomb to make it 1-0.
Accrington had their moments in the rest of the first half but nothing too concerning. One constant from them throughout the afternoon was the tendency to balloon any sort of chances high and wide. Having parked at the ground due to having the kids in tow, there were a few worries of coming out to a shattered windscreen with our visitors shooting efforts.
On my way down slightly before half time with two small people whose attention was starting to wane, I just about saw someone head the ball a whisker wide. Most thought it went in. Lucky it was a small away following; that would have been a loud “whhhheyyyy,” from a busier end.
After a few weeks off, this was my first sampling of the bar in a while. The pre-pour system appeared to work reasonably well. Queue time not too substantial. Positive. Of course, this would not be a Downhill Second Half article if we didn’t find a flaw. Let’s maybe call it more of a query. Estrella has been removed from the taps (normally the go to) and seemingly replaced by Budweiser. Not wanting to disappoint a mate with the latter, I decided to opt for Peronis and certainly noticed the difference in the price of a round once more. The price list had also disappeared; sure it’ll be back in view for the next home game, right?
An enjoyable half time led into a pretty enjoyable second forty five, too. A little like the first half, Stanley hinted at the odd threat. The left winger, Heath, on loan from Everton looked a very exciting prospect but his threat was well nullified first by Senior and then Kanu in a system change.
It was one of those days where everyone was a solid 7 or above. Senior was excellent again, the midfield looked settled and Crichlow had his best game so far at left back. Stead was back to his best. A nuisance all over the pitch. His perfectly timed challenge on the halfway line when tracking back in the latter stages just epitomising his consistent endeavour. A player who is in that bracket of there being a case for in any Barnet side over time for the multitude of qualities he offers.
It was another quality individual who scored the goal that sealed the points. A simple but satisfying one two between Glover and Senior made it 2-0 on 78 minutes. Glover’s numbers now starting to tick over akin to the output we became so used to last season.
One downside on an otherwise very positive afternoon was the sight of Nik Tavares limping off late on. Hopefully just precautionary but with his record in the past, you worry. With his influence on the back line, you really worry. Let’s hope it’s nothing serious.
Another theme of recent write ups has been a comment on the end of game music. None too impressed by the removal of Just Can’t Get Enough last time, today was a real mess and actually took a little bit of the full time oomph away. Initially, that dire ‘encore’ draw/loss music came on. It was then turned off and a couple of times Everybody Wants To Rule The World started before being cut off. Everyone knows that’s a half time song since Underhill. Then it was just silent. Felt odd. It was fixed and is now broken. Just do the simple thing and go back to what we know - hopefully we’ll need it again in two weeks time.
The picture continues to become even brighter. The heady heights of 10th place and three wins in an unbeaten four. Like many others, a rare far flung away game awaits for me next week. A first ever visit to Tranmere Rovers was earmarked by several of us before the fixtures were announced. It promises to be a great day out either way - but the prospect of leaving Prenton Park in the play off places adds even more appeal to a trip to the Wirral next week. There will be a lot of excitement getting on that train at Euston early doors.
My afternoon at The Hive ended on a personally very wholesome note. Having popped into the club shop in search of a present for someone that I couldn’t find, my children came out with two newly purchased BFC autograph books.
I felt very much like I was back in the 90s and watching myself as the two of them went up to each of our departing team leaving the players’ exit with pen and book in hand. Credit where it’s due to the players for stopping and particularly Collinge and Hartigan for making a bit of a fuss of them. It takes very little for the players but it makes such a difference. A warm way to wrap up a chilly, Autumnal afternoon. What it’s all about.
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