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All A-Bored Against The Railwaymen
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A dull draw as Glover remains part of our Crewe
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By:
Max Bygraves
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04/02/2026
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This article has been viewed 383 times.
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Crewe Alexandra were Barnet's first ever opponents in the Football League. The much fabled encounter in the summer of '91 ended in an incredible 4-7 score line. A game that will forever be remembered and etched into the club's history and folklore. Imagine the very opposite of that; that was Barnet v Crewe on a pig of a Tuesday night in February 2026.
After Brennan's controversial interview post-match last week regarding a poor attendance, hopes were not high as the windscreen wipers were used to full effect for the duration of the slog to our temporary outpost. An official attendance of 1908 given with 213 hardy souls from Cheshire. The latter part looked about right - I'm not sure there were 1600 actually present in the home end. It felt sparse and with the backdrop of lashing rain and chilly temperatures, with the entertainment that was to follow, this was as good an example of pathetic fallacy that I can think of for those of you who remember that term from GCSE English.
The lead up to the game had understandably been dominated by the previous day's transfer deadline. An anxious wait and lots of phone refreshing for many of us I would imagine as it looked like talisman Ryan Glover was on his way. I had said to someone last week I found it surprising we'd kept hold of him with little noise to suggest otherwise up to now. I have no idea how true the Blackpool or Barnsley rumours were yesterday but they're hardly surprising, are they?
As frustrating as it is, we do have to remember where we are in the footballing food chain and also that there a very few players who will see playing for Barnet as the pinnacle of where they want to get to in football. If you've read anything on this website in the last sixteen years, you won't have to look far to find some less than complimentary words about the proprietor of our football club. However, the reaction seen online when it was alleged Glover wason the move was extreme to say the least. If you look back over time, we've actually been incredibly lucky as Barnet fans to rarely lose key players mid-season. I'm struggling to think of a recent example unless you want to count Mason-Clark in August 2022.
As much as pound notes can sometimes be directed as the key motivation for many things at The Hive (more to follow in this very article, in fact), just taking the first money offered for players is not something that can be held against the club. There is an argument that if a player wants to go, we should never stand in their way in any case. It's apparent Glover is a proper professional and showed as much in this game, but in some instances, should we rule out the sale of anyone who is good for us just because we want them to stay as fans? I would imagine some quite brave decisions were taken on deadline day to turn down welcome funds to keep certain individuals here.
We've signed a plethora of players this season, many of whom have not worked out and in some instances are no longer at the club already. We did all we could last summer to retain some key individuals such as Danny Collinge and Idris Kanu on improved terms. The manager got a new contract. Believe me, there are many things I think people can justifiably berate the club for but the investment in the playing squad in the past couple of years is not one of them.
On this note, it's been a while since we had an update about a typically Barnet experience as part of the general matchday one in one of these. Admittedly second hand, but I was greeted by a friend at kick off who was still simmering from his interaction in the Legends Bar. Having bought a bottle of water for his son, he realised once paid for that it was in fact sparkling not still. He was then informed the bar did not have any normal water bottles. That's a separately bonkers issue, before then being given a laminated card with the refunds policy explained: Our matchday staff cannot issue refunds under any circumstances. Please email tellus@thehivelondon.com with your refund request. If your refund request is valid, we will process it.It then goes on to ask for additional evidence such as photos etc. They'll then supposedly ask for your bank details to reimburse you - so that's a reply to your original email you'll also have to send. Easy.
This feels like one of the most Barnet FC at The Hive things of them all. They know most people won't send the email - particularly for a small item and even if they do, in my experience of trying to use that address for other correspondence, you'll be waiting a significant amount of time until you get a reply, never mind your money. Apparently this situation was tempered by a hasty rush to get some water bottles brought over from the other bar and a swap was made, after quite a fuss. If you didn't love the football team, why would you want to come here?
Anyway, luckily there is plenty of blind devotion here so let's get to the game. This season it's tended to largely be either a bright start or a dire one and very little in between. On this gloomy evening, the shiny bright beginning was most welcomed. Within seven minutes, we were ahead thanks to a brilliant finish by Kabongo Tshimanga. One of our collective described him as a 'sniffer' (of goals, nothing libellous here) after his debut the other week. It had been argued that perhaps his nose had looked somewhat blocked over the past couple of games but he'd certainly given it a good blow in advance of this. Latching on to a deflected flick on from Hawkins, he confidently dispatched the ball into the bottom corner.
The change to a 4-4-2 formation seemed to be a smart move as the early dominance continued. Nothing much clear cut followed but we looked likely and were playing with more intent and attacking freedom than seen in the last couple of games.
Then, as has so often been the case at The Hive in the last few months, we just stopped being very good and showed a bit of the opposite for a bit. A real sense of deja vu that we hadn't capitalised whilst well on top as slowly but surely, the visitors came back into the game. Slicker made two fine saves, one that was hard to see from my view although he appeared to take quite a whack to the face for his troubles. However, it felt like a goal was coming and just after the half hour mark, an equaliser was slotted home. Frustrating, but little complaint given the direction of travel in the game as a whole.
The first half petered out after this with both teams seemingly happy to re-group at 1-1. Brennan chose to mix things up and withdrew Hawkins from his rare starting position, bringing on Hartigan and changing the shape of the team. Whilst there was a clear rationale to this to perhaps shore things up in the middle of the pitch, it also stifled us in attack. Tshimanga became isolated and relied on aimless punts that he wasn't going to win. Hartigan, Ofoborh and Shelton on the pitch at the same time just doesn't quite seem to work. It was surprising to see all of those finish the 90 but others come off.
Substitutions made little impact as the second half dragged with nothing of any sort of entertainment value on show. It began to look like what a game between Barnet and Crewe maybe should do around April time - two mid table teams very much on the beach. That's perhaps a little harsh as there was effort and adventure on our part, but very little quality in terms of end product. Our set pieces in particular were a source of frustration. You have to beat the first man. You have to try more than one option if something isn't working. It would seem there's quite a clear area of focus for training sessions in the days before the next game.
There was hope as the stoppage board went up of another late drama but barring a Kane Smith effort that never really looked like it was going in, there was no grandstand finish this time. On this occasion, it was one where you just felt glad to hear the whistle and be able to leave it there.
If this has come across as a bit of a downbeat one, it's probably due to still thawing out and being tired. It's funny to think what an extra goal would have done to the general outlook and feeling coming away from it but this did feel like a result that perhaps signifies the limitations on what we can expect for the rest of the season. Does anyone really think we are or can be one of the best seven teams in this league? I'd love to be wrong but can't see it myself.
After full time, whilst that horrendous 'we didn't win' music played on what felt like a never-ending loop, there was a fairly sizeable huddle of folk who watched the end of the Arsenal v Chelsea game on the one TV left on in the bar downstairs. This was a good shout to leave it on although why not have someone serving to make even a couple more quid from those wanting to warm themselves up with any sort of beverage? Whilst we are kicking the bar whilst it's down, the TVs on wheely stands with big shadows on the bottom of the screen and one that cuts out really do add to the depressing nature of that room. It wouldn't be hard to make it all a lot more inviting.
You'll probably be glad to know after this cheerful write up that it's a rare absence for me at the next home game. A weekend away in Copenhagen takes priority over a lunchtime kick off against Cheltenham Town, I'm afraid. No plans to make the journey to Walsall at the weekend on the back of doing the last away trip. Definitely the sort of game where we'll turn up and get a result now. Enjoy it if you're venturing to that inspiring part of the country. Give Albert a cheer and the love he deserves to be shown; it could be the last time he crosses our path.
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