|
Twist And Shout
|
|
Scrappy but satisfying
|
20/09/2026
|
|
|
This article has been viewed 110 times.
|
|
|
by Max Bygraves
|
|
It may only be mid-September but these are good times and need to be enjoyed. We haven’t been in this position this far into a league campaign this century. So very much feel to get as carried away as you bloody well like.
I was around very early for this one. The BFCSA AGM was taking place at 1pm meaning an early arrival, no drama parking somewhere close and having the curious start to the day of the ground being unlocked for us to get in. I was attending the AGM having recently joined the association’s committee. That should be rejoined, in fact, as I was on it for a year in 2006-07. But 20 years on, it’s a decision I’ve taken because of genuinely wanting to be involved, hopefully helping to make a positive difference and working with some good people rather than just doing something that’d look good on my UCAS statement for applying to University. I don’t think I used to bring much to those monthly meetings in the Old Red Lion two decades ago, in fairness. Excited to be part of it - if you’re not already a member, join up today as the very cool digital advertising board around the ground showed!
The early meeting was done by just before 1:30pm and I found myself with an unusual amount of pre match time to kill. What took me by surprise was how many people were waiting to get in at 1:30 when there was the tannoy bing bong, “the ground is now open to the public.” I’ve noticed over the last few games the club put a ‘matchday timetable’ on social media. This is a nice idea but would be even better if the offer was expanded in terms of things to actually do in and around the place. Not sure what it includes at present unless you just really like watching the team warm up and really want to savour the fried chicken on offer.
Rather than hanging around the Legends bar for the entire wait, I made my way to the other side of the ground and paid a quick visit to the club shop. The most organised tiny bit of Christmas shopping ever. My son, for reasons I haven’t quite worked out, is desperate to get a Barnet FC pennant and has requested this several times. Santa getting ahead of the game three months early, just have to remember where I’ve hidden it at home when December comes around. I enquired about the cost of the home kit shorts to go with his recently acquired shirt whilst I was there. £24.50 - I stifled a laugh; he’ll be fine with his plain black PE shorts, I think. Whilst in the shop, a familiar voice filled the general quiet.
None other than Dean Brennan popped in, looking to get initials printed on a training top. There was some sort of issue that meant this wasn’t possible. Whilst not delighted by this, his biggest gripe was the fact there was no music playing in the shop. “It’s like a morgue in here!” he declared twice, before a request to get some of his favoured reggae on. An amusing watch. I do like how in something of an old school way, this is a man who just wants to have control over every aspect at the club. Almost Brian Clough-esque. Don’t be surprised to hear a bit of Bob Marley on your next visit to the club shop…
Now time to kill pre match in years gone by would have likely only been one thing. Given I drive to home games, however, plotting up for an extended time at the bar and getting stuck in pre-match not really an option. Still, with plenty of time to spare I decided I would treat myself to a first Hive pint for quite some time. And it was good news!
For the notably cheaper price of £6.12 with my season ticket discount, I was given a most reasonable lager. The service was both friendly (the guy had clearly practiced his smiley “cheers mate,” and I liked it) and rapid. The pre-pour system clearly in full flow before the match and from feedback received both those at half time. It was all an incredibly smooth operation. Let’s hope this is the new normal! Cheers indeed.
After that extensive pre match tale, we’d better get to the game hadn’t we? Given the news this week that the next two are off due to internationals, the importance of a win perhaps even greater to stay in touch with those at the top when we resume things in October.
It was apparent very quickly that Fleetwood were no mugs. Also on a fine unbeaten run that began after our impressive win at their place on Easter Monday. It was clear from the early stages that whilst they could still do the ugly, physical stuff we saw last season here they could also play. The first effort of the game saw Cox produce a fine save. They weren’t coming here to sit back.
Not too taken a back by the visitors adventurous start, we also began to probe. Tshimanga might have done more with one opportunity but then in the 10th minute was presented with a golden opportunity.
A long ball over the top from Cox, a theme all afternoon, saw Tshimanga chase onto it and look to go round the keeper. He was brought down and it was an open and shut case. Penalty. The only slightly puzzling aspect the fact no yellow card was issued. Unsurprisingly, Kabby picked himself up and did what he does. No mistake, 1-0 Barnet.
The ball over the top must have been something worked on this week from a weakness that had been identified. On two occasions it almost came off, only for it to hit the wrong part of the onrushing Tshimanga. It was a different approach and somewhat surprising to see with so many ball players on the pitch, but never averse to mixing it up. There were a few questions from some in the stands but as things were to play out - what do we know?
Fleetwood were still probing however and ten minutes before half time were back on terms. A slice of bad luck but some more disappointing defending led to an opportunity. Cox saved initially, the post stopped the first rebound but yet again Will Davies scored at The Hive. By my count, that’s on three successive visits with two different sides. The bloke is a menace.
We were all seemingly fairly content to take it being all square when half time came around. This had not been vintage Barnet and it had been well established now that Fleetwood were definitely not shit. Trepidation certainly a feature of half time conversations in the fast moving bar.
No half time changes but there was a noticeable change to the dynamic. Fleetwood were given a lot less time on the ball and we stepped things up. On 59 minutes, my regular accomplice Tony Smart had to leave early with his daughter to make another commitment he’d unexpectedly had to take her to due a last minute change of plan and circumstance. As I text him a few minutes later, he can definitely claim an assist for how the next few minutes panned out.
On the hour mark, Knowles knocked a half volleyed cross into the box. Kanu challenged for the header, the ball fell to a defender who didn’t cover himself in glory and there was a very opportune pounce from that man again, Charlie Lakin. If his winner last weekend was a bit ugly, this one was truly unattractive. From the angle in the stand it was hard to see quite how it ended up going in but I don’t think one person of a Barnet persuasion cared about this. A big moment in a tough battle.
Over the last few years, there’s been some very easy on the eye stuff at The Hive. It can’t always be that way, though. Just two minutes after the second goal we were up celebrating again.
A fantastic, trademark League 2 hoof from Comley caused all sorts of panic in the Fleetwood box. Tshimanga couldn’t bring it under control but thankfully neither could the defender. Idris Kanu was the coolest man on the pitch as he anticipated superbly and then nonchalantly dinked the ball over the keeper. His first goal at The Hive since January 2025. We enjoyed that one. One of those where you really find yourself roaring with delight. What a spell!
There was still more than enough time for Fleetwood to make things uncomfortable for us. However, something had switched. We were far more assured than the first half and continued on the front foot. Following a couple of questionable offside calls, with about twenty minutes, Kanu was put through on goal. As he shaped up to shoot, he did appear to be brought down unfairly - but not in the eyes of the ref. I was initially convinced but judging by the not overly wild protests, maybe he knew it wasn’t?
A 4th would have been a luxury but seeing out a 3-1 was absolutely fine. It has to be said, there was some top defending on show as we entered the final quarter of an hour. Crichlow in particular had an outstanding game at left back and he was among a number of players to make some terrific blocks and brave challenges as Fleetwood came back into it. We looked solid and apart from the odd nervy corner, chances for them were at a premium.
Our cause wasn’t helped with some very poor decision making from substitute Ofoborh in the 85th minute. Having replaced Gallagher a little earlier, his impact was minimal as he found himself leaving the field early. A silly pull back inside our own half was followed by an even sillier kick away of the ball. The fastest double yellow card I’ve ever seen at Barnet. In fact, that’s a lie, it was so fast in the moment that I missed the incident and hadn’t realised what was happening until I saw him trudging off. But thankfully for the highlights, fair to say there’s not too much debate around that one.
We weren’t made to feel the pressure of playing with 10 and after an additional five minutes of stoppage time, the whistle sounded to wrap up another very enjoyable afternoon.
I suppose a bit of a no brainer but what a good choice by the club to play Twist and Shout as the victory song over the tannoy. We’ve all had our fun with Depeche Mode but this is a song with a proper Barnet connection. Credit to the young lads at the back for giving that a decent go just before full time, also. I felt like it was an improved atmosphere although still room for more. Some of the table-topping chants generated a very decent noise.
Only 1948 in attendance with 81 away (it didn’t look that many) is a bit of a blot on matters. Less than 1900 Barnet fans turning up when we’re in our best situation in over a quarter of a century is a shame. As I said last time, it will be interesting to see how crowds go over the next few months if we stay where we are. Away figures will rarely, if at all, be as low as the last two home games so the average should rise significantly, but it’ll be an interesting to see what percentage of that is home support.
It was very important to go into this extended break with a victory. In many ways, the timing is terrible given the break now whilst we have momentum building. It does, however, allow time for everyone to be back fit which hopefully means we’ll go into October’s fixtures with a fully available squad. The way the fixtures have panned out, we don’t play at The Hive for 4 and half weeks and not for 5 on a Saturday. I’m away for that Oldham one so will have to wait until November 21st for a Saturday home game now - a crazy in-season gap!
Such was my jubilation after this one, I headed over to the bar on the other side with a few others to elongate the league-topping revelling. It would appear the service in that bar needs similar work as had seemingly been done to The Legends one for this. Watching them attempt a shandy was quite a spectacle. Oh and an apology for a misprint about a certain mural being taken down that we mentioned a while ago. This was incorrect and going forward we will only report what we see and not what we hear! Let’s hope in the big gap between games this does finally get resolved.
We might have only played 7 games but I really implore you to look at the league table this week and enjoy it. This is the best we’ve had it for arguably two generations. There’s a long way to go, of course, but I will not be regretting getting a little giddy now even if things don’t go from here as we might hope. Given we should have won at Chesterfield and been even further clear, my feeling is that there’s even more to come from this team. If we can pick up where we left off in some tricky looking fixtures next month, excitement levels could get seriously out of hands.
Well shake it up baby, now…
|
|
|
All Articles By This Author:
Other Articles By Category
|