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No Boos
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Cheers all round! Goals and empty seats galore in a much needed return to winning ways against Maidstone.
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By:
Max Bygraves
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05/10/2022
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This article has been viewed 1069 times.
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Getting in the car and taking an unusual route involving both the M25 and A1 to Edgware, on the back of Saturday’s debacle, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t asking myself a few questions about decisions regarding the use of my leisure time. The events of the weekend were still pretty raw. It almost felt too soon to be back at the scene of such a horror show.
Arriving at the ground, it felt like many others felt this way and that it indeed was too much to ask. Desolate perhaps best describes the stands a matter of minutes before kick-off.
The official attendance was given as 1173 with 185 from Maidstone. 988 tickets may have been sold for the home end based on season tickets, but it’s hard to believe there were that many actually there. From what it looked like from the bottom of the stand at 7:40, hitting 700 seemed optimistic.
If ever a team needed an early goal, it was Barnet in this game. Nicke Kabamba’s second minute header was the boost needed on and off the pitch. Whilst rather subdued and largely quiet throughout, credit to those in attendance last night for very much supporting the team.
Saturday was hideous to watch, but grown adults booing is quite tough to endure. Is that really the best way to share your feelings? Can you imagine doing it in any other context to show your displeasure at something? By 0-2 on Saturday, long balls forward were getting jeered and players singled out for some ridiculous abuse. The same players many were hyping up as wonderful recruits only six or seven games ago.
It felt like many of that persuasion were the ones who stayed away last night; judging by the collective measured response to former Bees player Jack Barham making it 1-1. The equaliser was a complete farce of a goal from a defensive point of view, but didn’t prompt a negative response from the stands. The recent downturn in form perhaps resetting some people’s expectations to allow for a bit more of an acceptance that certain errors are going to be inevitable, with what we’ve got to work with?
Popping down to the bar at half time, things seemed to be running a more smoothly than Saturday. There were more staff and it was reported the pints weren’t flat although I can’t confirm this first hand. It was highlighted, however, that the Beavertown Neck Oil pump, which the BFCSA worked hard to get sorted last season is not only switched off but won’t be coming back at all. A change of brewery over the summer means that short-term excellent option is no more. A real shame.
Dale Gorman’s well placed free kick restored Barnet’s lead early in the second half. Thankfully his failed knee slide didn’t result in serious injury. On recent showings, that felt like a big moment for a player who’d made a considerable early contribution this season but less so in more recent games. Hopefully the start of a return to form.
On that note, the omission of Sean Shields certainly raised a few eyebrows. Still a bit of a tricky one to work out why. In fairness, Idris Kanu looked a lot better than previous showings. His work rate was terrific although there does appear to be a bit of a confidence issue in pulling the trigger. This was particularly highlighted when being frustratingly unselfish and passing instead of shooting, just prior to going 2-1 up.
The 2-1 score line at this stage of play prompted much excitement for both me and my companion in the stand. Before the match, he’d explained how he’d put £5 on 3-2 Barnet as this had been the score when he’d last seen us play Maidstone in Division 4 in 1992. Apparently the Maidstone away kit this season is a nod to what they wore then, too. I had to get involved. It seemed to be written in the stars.
When Ben Wynter drilled home a third just past the 70 minute mark, it looked like a much needed first win in six was all but confirmed but given our defensive form, the bet looked good too. Some around us may have been a little confused by my mate’s excitable reaction to the brilliantly named Regan Booty making it 3-2 very shortly after.
Doing our best to talk through the continued entertaining exchanges whilst holding firm on the ‘cash out’ option, it was a strange feeling as Kabamba broke through in the 90th minute. A cool finish, almost a carbon copy of his opening day strike at that end against Halifax made sure of the three points but collectively cost the two of us winnings of over £200. I think that’s what they call bittersweet. More like just ‘bitter’ at the time, if I’m totally honest. Head in hands at a last minute goal for was a new experience to endure. Never bet on your own team.
Kabamba’s goal was needed as there was still time for the visitors to pull another back. No doubt a disappointing final note for Brennan to see another high goals against tally, but the three points were the most important in this one, however they were gleaned.
In the context of what’s next, it was significant to get a win on the board before a daunting trip to Wrexham, followed by the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round. Weston-Super-Mare, currently 2nd in the Southern Premier League, has all the potential hallmarks of yesteryear banana-skin nightmares against the likes of Tiverton or Halesowen. Perhaps last night’s result will give a sufficient boost to avoid this being the case…
The hardy souls embarking on the journey to North Wales this Saturday will do so almost certainly more in hope than any sort of expectation. Given another leaky defensive performance, no one can be blamed for fearing the worst. Where we looked good in the early stages of the campaign was being resolute and disciplined. Players need to stick to very basic jobs and in a game somewhere like this up against a partisan, large and buoyant home crowd, all the dark arts need to come out.
Laurie Walker did a sterling job of infuriating the Maidstone fans behind his goal with his time wasting antics in the second half. Dodging out of the way of an aggressively returned ball the highlight. More of that from the word go at The Racecourse, please. Gorman needs to be at his very shithouse best in the middle of the park, winding them up and making a meal of everything. Being disciplined at being totally horrible will be key.
Finally, a note on Nicke Kabamba. 7 goals in 12 games is a very decent return. Some were putting him in the firing line after the Dorking game a few weeks back. It is true, he probably could have an even higher tally already if he took all his chances, but he’s doing an admirable job of leading the line and is showing he can be relied upon in an area where we have zero depth. His work rate and endeavour is superb, chasing after every lost cause but with goals to his game, too. All the hall marks of a cult hero, but an actual good one.
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