MK Dons at home. If they weren’t who they were, this is the sort of game that geographically could become a significant deal. As it is, anyone at least my age or older will only see them as a club that shouldn’t be after the farcical decision making of the FA at the turn of the century. What was apparent from their following is that over the past two decades, they’ve now developed a core of support. There are young adults now who will have only known Milton Keynes having a league team. Over 1300 of them in attendance for this and quite the racket they made.
On my walk from my seemingly not so secret parking space now we’re good at just after 2:30, you could already hear them in full voice. Bit weird in a way, there’s a nice warm bar downstairs rather than watching the warm ups, but each to their own.
In my exile years from The Hive, I certainly drew the odd slightly hyperbolic comparison between MK Dons and us. I acknowledge the extremity of that now, of course, although en route to the game today being taken around the back streets of Edgware by Waze to make good time it really did reiterate again how much I look forward to the day we ending this locational nightmare and return home. Interesting to see some flags in the away end with original Wimbledon badges on and claims about the ‘Real Dons.’ I wonder how many Wimbledon FC fans still watch this side.
Anyway, my initial arrival to our current abode was met with a temporary panic as a queue appeared to be snaking out to the car park, akin to scenes thankfully not seen since August. Luckily this was a false alarm due to some slightly excessive tokenistic pat downs taking place. Within less than a minute, through the door and with time for a quick pre match drink. No queue and quickly available - although some options not on tap and the price list does appear to have disappeared again. Appreciate this isn’t the most interesting content, but let’s keep everyone honest, eh?
The game began after a well observed Remembrance Day tribute pre match. A shame this year the Last Post was played through the speaker rather than by a live bugle player; hopefully next time. We flew out the traps immediately and within two minutes, Stead might have done better with a very reasonable chance. Within the first ten, another opportunity went begging but we looked hungry for goals and MK had little response.
Thirteen minutes in, our bright start was rewarded. An effective short corner routine saw a lovely whipped cross met by the head of Adam Senior. His brilliance seemingly knows no bounds. What a signing. What a player. He can also do really long knee slides. A whole square of the manicured pitch left with a celebratory tattoo for the rest of the afternoon. Very much making his mark.
We continued to dominate and looked the more likely to score again. Before the half hour mark, we were presented with a golden opportunity to do so thanks to some very clever play by Ryan Glover. As soon as he entered the box, it was clear to all apart from the MK defender up against him what was going to happen next. It was a foul but there was definite nous and guile on show from our number 15 in how it was won.
Mark Shelton stepped up. Visions of that glorious late April day against Aldershot where he twice dispatched from the spot en route to clinching the title at that end of the ground coming straight to mind. Once again, he made no mistake. The coolest of finishes to double the lead and put us in an unexpectedly comfortable position against the pre-season title favourites.
With the first half’s end drawing nearer, it looked like another opportunity would be presented when Stead was clearly fouled on the edge of the box. However, the referee played an understandable initial advantage but chose not to blow up and pull things back when it quickly petered out.
A voice of reason downstairs at half time did point out that we absolutely can’t say MK made it 2-1 on 39 minutes because of this. He’s right. If we’d had a free kick, it could have cannoned off the wall and we may had got done on the counter. However, in the moment, it did feel like this counter, corner and clever goal were a little unfair.
Just prior to half time, on 41 minutes was the applause for Jonathan Collins. I can’t claim to have known him, but he and his dad very much familiar faces since Underhill. A proper Barnet fan. A very sad loss at such a young age. Our thoughts and condolences go to his friends and family. All credit to the travelling support for fully joining in with this too.
At half time there was a sense of positivity with some trepidation of what might be to come. The goal had been conceded at a bad time for the pendulum to potentially swing in the visitor’s favour in the second forty five.
The first major talking point of the second half came via an indirect free kick. They just look very 90s, don’t they? Credit to The Wardrobe here for correctly identifying in the moment that it’s an Alan Shearer free kick against Georgia at Wembley in 1997 that is the ultimate trademark of an indirect free kick goal.
Ours was awarded for a panicked back pass to the goalkeeper to prevent a great opportunity. They could have no arguments. The wall was marched back ten yards and Oforborh stood over the ball ready to tee up Mark Shelton for his Shearer moment. Or so we thought. Presumably, Oforborh not touching the ball was part of a ploy for Shelton to shoot directly and hope for a deflection. There was some minor protest the was a pink sock hit on the way in but these were feeble. Goal disallowed and all a little embarrassing, really.
A slight aside at this juncture to some of the songs that began from the Amber Battalion around this point in the afternoon. Presumably because it was Remembrance Day’s fixture, a chorus of ‘ten German bombers’ was completed all the way from ten to one. After this, “Keir Starmer is a liar,” was also chanted. Everyone is obviously entitled to their views and opinions but I’d really hope this isn’t something that becomes a feature. Keep the politics away from the football, chaps. For many, Barnet is an escape from the realities of the wider world. Let’s keep the singing focused on Barnet.
With twenty five minutes to go, the lead was blown. An attack wasn’t dealt with and the ball dropped kindly to the incoming, experienced Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. A man who as recently as 2019 bagged a brace in a 2-0 Premier League win at Old Trafford making no mistake. A fine goal and surprisingly strong bundles from the away end. I never want to look, but you sort of have to.
The fear now was that three points would turn to zero. However, MK never really went into the ascendency as expected. Credit to Brennan’s side for digging in and broadly steering proceedings again after this.
Moments after the equaliser, many were up in arms suggesting the visitors should have been reduced to 10 men. A superb through ball by a generally more notable Ben Winterburn was latched onto by Stead who was then clearly taken out. Seemingly the same opponent who had done very well to avoid a yellow for the first half incident this time did this time receive one. With a level head, I don’t think he was last man but who wants to be reasonable in the moment? Off, off, off! Had he gone, it might have been different.
The pace of the game showed no sign of slowing and Cieran Slicker was forced into the save of the match from a superbly struck dipping volley. A quick reaction to a slightly fortuitous opportunity kept the scores level.
Changes were made and as the clock ticked by, we looked the more likely. A word at this point for Ryan Glover who tried to get the atmosphere going with some arms of encouragement. You just get the sense he absolutely loves it. His double back to celebrate with some fans at the front of the stand and dish out a few high fives after the second goal didn’t go unnoticed either. Someone we can feel proud to wear our colours. There’s plenty of them in this team, in fairness.
Oli Hawkins introduction from the bench changed the dynamic and approach but it was effective. I will cite again being told I was ‘wilfully ignorant’ for my comment a few weeks about Ndlovu not winning headers. He didn’t win one yesterday - it’s not his game. He does other things well. Hawkins gave us an aerial option and didn’t lose one in his short cameo.
On 93 of 95 minutes, he appeared to win his most significant header of them all. The ball was whipped in and met by the big man to seemingly secure a last gasp victory. Thankfully, I think the flag was up before the ball had fully crossed the line and muted the false celebration very quickly. It felt like we deserved a moment like that for our endeavour. I think I’d still needing scraping down from the ceiling now had it stood but it wasn’t to be.
A 2-2 draw at the game’s end. Pre-match, I don’t think there’s many of us that wouldn’t have settled for that. I’ll say again also how great it is to be watching entertaining football league games. These are being played in front of decent crowds in proper atmospheres and we are very much competitive. Three months into our football league return, this is a good place to be.
Yes, the context of being 2-0 up and not winning is always going to be a bit of disappointment but it’s not one that will take much picking ourselves up from. So many positive signs against a team I would be very surprised don’t make the top three given their resource and strength in depth.
We left the ground to the tune of Just Can’t Get Enough getting a first airing for a while. Don’t get me wrong, much better than that awful ‘Encore’ tune we normally play when we don’t win - but that’s just it, I thought Depeche Mode was three points only? The musical mystery odyssey continues.
Cambridge away next. Too accessible not to make the effort for. Very much looking forward to a day out in one of the more salubrious towns a lower league away day can take you to. 12th v 11th - I fancy us.
Footnote: You may have seen over the past week that we have team up with our pal at Subbuteo FC to create some 2026 Barnet Calendars. If you’d like to pre-order one, send us an email via the website or a direct message on our socials. Alternatively, they’re available via Etsy here:
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