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2011-2012 As Seen By Eric Hitchmo - Part One
New year, new start By: Eric Hitchmo 15/05/2012




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"After a near-miracle in 2010-2011, Barnet fans would have been forgiven for approaching a new season with some trepidation. As it always tends to though, there was some optimism floating around Underhill, though perhaps this was with some good reason. After all, we had appointed a manager with some real pedigree and there was belief that maybe we could end years of eternal Football League struggle and begin to make some impression on Division Four. In six years, we had only finished in the top half once, and took survival to the last day in three of those years, perhaps this was to be the year that put paid to dreadful statistics.

Trialists came, trialists went, and after a rapid pre-season,  squad of 21 was assembled with several new faces joining permanently, including Dean Brill and Danny Senda who formed the nucleus of a reasonable looking squad, though a question mark was hanging over the defence after the loss of Joe Devera to Swindon Town with no notable additions in the centre. We made the long trek north to Morecambe to begin the season's proceedings. As these things often turn out to be, this was something of an anti-climax. It was though a workmanlike performance, settled by a piece of magic by Mark Byrne who smashed in the games' only goal with fourteen minutes to spare to secure our first win in an opening day fixture since 2004. Well that will certainly do for starters. Next up was the League Cup, with a trip to Championship side Portsmouth in the offing. You wouldn't have given us much hope for this, but another thoroughly enjoyable away day was supplemented by an outstanding performance from Barnet. In the end, it was another solitary goal from the head of Mark Hughes that was enough to send us through to the second round, though on reflection it could have been so many more. We ran amok through a side two leagues our superior. It was fantastic stuff, not even the presence of former Arsenal legend Kanu could spoil what was to be a memorable evening by the coast. At a time where much of London was hit by rioting, it provided some relief from the madness happening on our doorstep. Could we get a bit carried away at this point? I mean, the season is only two games old, but we couldn't have started much better. The reward for this victory was a trip to Burnley when frankly there were far more mouthwatering ties available to us, but if we can give Portsmouth a run for their money, then why not take on Burnley too. More on that soon...

It was back to the bread and butter of the league as we opened up our home campaign with a visit from Port Vale. Anyone who has been supporting Barnet for any length of time will tell you not to get carried away, and so it proved as we were brought crashing down to earth with an abject showing against a decent looking side from Vale Park. It didn't take long for the optimism to be tempered. Exodus Geohaghon was recruited to alleviate an already populated injury list as promotion candidates Gillingham were next to roll into town and they weren't keen to allow us to bounce back. In a game which ebbed and flowed with the pendulum of advantage swinging back and forth throughout, it took a 94th minute equaliser from Izale McLeod to share the spoils after his earlier strike opened his account for the season. So a rather par-for-the-course opening to the season as cup draws and the fixture computer ensured our next four games would be on the road.

First up was a trip to the devoid of life Don Valley Stadium where Rotherham United pinched a late draw after Clovis Kamdjo and McLeod had given us a lead. It was to be the last goal that Adam Le Fondre would score for the home side before moving to Reading and he did so with less than ten minutes remaining. Frustrating, but a point nonetheless.

It was to be a very late night indeed at Burnley in the League Cup, having looked like it may be a routine defeat. 2-0 down after the hour, we were headed out but for a spirited comeback. Steve Kabba got the ball rolling with 73 minutes on the clock but it took until injury time for Ricky Holmes to lay his claim for ""moment of the season"" as he poked home a rebound, sending the small away following loopy. Extra Time beckoned to extend the evening further, and we were eventually defeated 3-2 after a valiant effort. For those who travelled on the newly formed official coach travel, it was to be a bizarre evening as we were invited to wait at Watford Gap services for close to two hours while the drivers changed shifts. Now it would be unlike us to be cynical, but this seemed to be absolutely typical of Barnet Football Club's organisation and the offer of recompense (£10 off next coach travel) was frankly insulting. Needless to say, it was the first and last time we would use this service. It riles me still, even now! Arriving at home at 5am ensured it would be a story to tell, at the very least.

Next was a trip to Bradford City and it was to be another defeat which even at this early stage, sparked grumbles of discontent amongst the Barnet faithful. Izale McLeod was on the scoresheet again and there may have been some worry that he may leave before the end of the transfer window, but as it turned out, the only bid received was for Mark Marshall which the club rejected as derisory.

We were afforded another cup distraction in the form of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in which we progressed handsomely against League One Colchester United. Holmes, McLeod and Kabba were again on target, though McLeod was later sent off for a silly second bookable offence awarded by a fussy official. On the whole we were playing very nicely away from home, but we could not turn that form into anything meaningful at Underhill as was shown by a contender for the worst game of football in history against Accrington Stanley. Having described our away form as OK, in hindsight we were about to embark on a run of form that would plunge us into no end of doubt and seriously turn up the volume from the early dissenters.

It kicked off with a comfortable defeat to Crewe, McLeod again the only Barnet name on the scoresheet. Lloyd Owusu was drafted in as a replacement for Jason Price who could not earn himself a full-time contract with the club after notching once against Port Vale. We would see very little of Lloyd, which made us all wonder why he was signed in the first place! He got two minutes against a Plymouth Argyle side in disarray. Two horrendous teams battled to be worse than eachother, though we did manage to squeeze out two unanswered goals through McLeod, again, and Aussie defender Daniel Leach. This was to be the only highlight of September as things continued to descend. Even at this early stage, negativity was rife, it seemed that Barnet fans had found this one all too familiar to previous years. Six goals conceded with no reply in the next two saw that very little light was to be found at the end of the tunnel, already.

Oxford United visited Underhill next and punished our defence with two quickfire strikes. Questions were being raised over the back four and, as they had been in pre-season, while team selection was also a gripe. The feeling of ""here we go yet again"" was prevalent, and it was to be highlighted, underlined and surrounded by great flashing lights when we were hammered by Swindon Town at The County Ground. The noise was building. Frustration was rearing its ugly head. Anger was being directed at the club and even at the manager at this stage. His comments regarding Nigel Worthington and the Northern Ireland job, a post which he had previously held, had served to wind a few up also. As you could see from the Swindon write up, this author was already finding himself at his wits end with Barnet, not for the first time and certainly not the last. The most worrying thing was that it wasn't even the end of September yet.

As the second month of the season drew to a close, we found ourselves 21st in the league with two wins from ten games and the joint worst defensive record in the division.

And people wonder why we were dissatisfied..."




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