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Wind, Rain, Sunshine and…Playoffs?
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By:
Max Bygraves
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12/04/2026
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This article has been viewed 328 times.
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Due to varying commitments and clashes, it had been four weeks since I last trudged out of The Hive following our defeat to Newport. That day, it felt like the season was over. What’s largely happened since has been nothing short of remarkable. With the exception of a disappointing late draw at lowly Crawley, 7 from 9 against the top 3 and then an away win where we hit 5 at Fleetwood. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. It has certainly been a little bittersweet in recent weeks and had me chopping at the bit to get involved once more. Never seem to miss the bad games…
Anyway, it was good to be back, the usual tedious journey aside. That and the double yellow line bonanza on my old failsafe road for local parking. I suppose the new one I had to settle on can be used again, given the outcome. A pain all the same. Bring Barnet Back.
Let’s start with a really uninteresting fact: Barrow made it 92/92 current Football League clubs that I’ve seen live. I bet you’ve missed reading this kind of riveting content over the past few weeks. Their ground remains one of the few not on that particular list. Given the journey required to get it added to that collection, there will be no disappointment from me if they drop back to non-league.
Barrow have had a torrid season, having not really looked in any danger until the last couple of months. Some similarities to our sinking like a stone in 2001 although their points tally implies a more rapid descent. A series of managerial changes have not had the desired effect. 177 of them made the long journey south and it will have felt an even longer return, very much staring into the abyss with results elsewhere.
It started brightly for them, however. With just shy of three minutes played. Admittedly, on our row we were still getting settled and chatting about the various lunchtime results across the leagues when we were very rudely interrupted. A well taken goal by Gordon gave Barrow an early 0-1 lead. It looked like we’d have to do this the hard way.
It must be said, after their goal, there wasn’t too much of an immediate response. It had a very end of season, nothing feel. Everything was a bit languid. The crowd was quiet, the tempo was slow, it did all look a little ‘on the beach.’ A comment on our row during a particularly quiet point that “it’s quite nice not to have any stress, though,” would be revisited later.
Just before half time, one of the stranger finishes of the season pulled us level. Shelton did the hard work and struck the ball well enough but it appeared to come off Tshimanga’s backside and deflected in. They all count. Double figures for the January signing. A great bit of business. Imagine we’d had him from the start…
Something that arguably hasn’t happened enough this season in this situation; we kicked on. The half time break didn’t slow our momentum and we came out firing on all cylinders for the second half. Less than ten minutes into it, we’d turned things around. A fantastic ball was threaded through by Stead and Shelton finished coolly. Our number 19 has had his critics this season but showed his value here. You feel there’s a chance he may not be here next season, but a fine servant he has been for us with many significant contributions. Nice one, Shelts.
We didn’t let up after this and very much exerted dominance. We looked comfortable, on the front foot and the more likely team to score the next goal. Tshimanga forced an outstanding save from their keeper which had us out of our seats. We didn’t look in any danger.
The mistake was then made to start looking at results elsewhere and the live league table. We started to get a bit excited, didn’t we? Football really has a habit of making you feel silly. No sooner had we started discussing permutations as to how the top 7 place would be achieved that Barrow equalised. Watching it back, it was a fine individual goal which I hadn’t quite realised in real time, but came from absolutely nowhere.
What was that stupid comment about ‘no stress,’ earlier on? Now we were in full flight, as we approached the final furlong of the game. Had to be a Grand National pun in here somewhere, didn’t there? It felt like it was going to be an all too familiar feeling of taking one point instead of three.
Despite results elsewhere meaning Barrow really could have done with all three points, they didn’t threaten the ultimate robbery. We composed ourselves and went again but you did wonder if perhaps our chances had come and gone.
Then, a simply delightful moment. A fantastic whipped cross by the seemingly revitalised Jaiyesimi (a goal and assist in back to back games looked a very hopeful pipe dream when I last saw him play - fair play) beat everyone. Everyone in the visiting defence, anyway. Callum Stead was there at the back post to stoop and head in to the top corner. Our top scorer last season popped up when it mattered again. What a huge goal that could prove to be. It was met with suitable jubilance.
After this, as Brennan cited in his post match interview, we saw the game out really well. Barring the odd dubious pass, we were measured and controlled in our approach. Some very good decision making and patience enabled us to wile away the closing stages. Kizzi for Tshimanga demonstrated our intent to shut up shop and it worked. Barrow got frustrated as we penned the ball in their corner for much of the six minutes of stoppage time.
It was a roar of relief, delight and maybe even a little bit of excitement at what it could potentially mean at full time. Make no mistake, the odds are still against us, but we are asking the play off question as things stand. I’ll be the first to admit that a few weeks ago I didn’t think this was any real possibility.
We will all be furiously refreshing updates of Chesterfield v Grimsby on Tuesday night. They’re both in the better position of course, but can you imagine if that ends a draw? I said at the start of the season I would take mid table and my ideal would be that we had an eye still on the play offs as an outside chance with a few games to go. I’d say we’ve arguably even slightly exceeded that given we look well on course for the top 10 at least now. I started going to Barnet in 1999; in that first season we came 6th in this division and it’s been downhill ever since. Matching or beating that is out of the question but a second best return in 26 years is looking very much on the cards.
After the game, the BFCSA held the player of the year awards in the bar under the stand. Have to commend the set up and professional nature of this, clearly making progress from previous years and building positively. Credit where it’s due also to the club for engaging with them in terms of the media element of it all. Positive steps off the pitch here, for sure.
Disappointingly, I had to shoot off before the awards began. It was a shame to miss out and I heard it was a great event. Congratulations to Ryan Glover on retaining his award from last year, hard to say it’s not deserved but also notable to see Danny Collinge win player’s player and manager’s. Nik Tavares maybe a little hard done by to leave empty handed.
Had to leave early prior to the awards due to parenting responsibilities. Just checking here, it would be parentally responsible to take two young kids to Nottingham for a day out next Saturday, wouldn’t it?
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