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Sit Back, Relax And Enjoy
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Three points, three goals and three clean sheets in a row.
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By:
Max Bygraves
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26/01/2025
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This article has been viewed 273 times.
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That was easy. For the second Saturday running, it was a relaxing afternoon watching Barnet cruise to a comfortable victory. What times these are.
Maidenhead have done a fine job of punching considerably above their weight for a long period. Managed by the wily Alan Devonshire, they’ve become a mainstay in this division despite their limited resources. We’d seen back in August what they were capable of, having been on the wrong side of a 3-1 scoreline at York Road. Revenge required.
A first home game of 2025 but the same old misery trying to reach the venue we will hopefully only have to endure for a few more years. It wasn’t a great crowd given our league position but as I battled with traffic and was sent down some completely new roads by my SatNav in a race to make it on time, it served as a reminder why people don’t bother. Each to their own. I don’t blame anyone for their choice either way - if they don’t want to come now when this kind of football is on offer, they never will make a habit of The Hive.
To match the progress on the pitch, the move home can’t come soon enough. January against Maidenhead or not - 1529 home fans when there’s a half price ticket offer to bring a friend for season ticket holders, we’re unbeaten at home and now top of the league. Yikes.
Anyway, in the ground just as the game kicked off, the outlook was more positive. Immediately, we took hold of the game and had total control. Until the latter stages, Maidenhead didn’t appear too interested in crossing the halfway line. A very chilled out Saturday afternoon for their front two.
It looked like we were set to break the deadlock in the 15th minute when Callum Stead powered a header goal wards. This was met with a magnificent save from former Bees keeper Craig Ross. He was then on hand to palm away Ndlovu’s effort just moments later. As last time we faced him, he did have a decent game although was subjected to less bile which at York Road only seemed to serve to fire him up. He does love a dramatic open palm for all sorts of saves; an interesting goalkeeping style.
By the twenty fifth minute, Ross was already blatantly time wasting. Taking an age to collect the ball, swapping balls with a ball boy. No qualms with that kind of behaviour being attempted by a side in their situation, we just had to give them reason to be pressed for time.
Before the half hour mark, we did. The strangest goal of the season from a viewing perspective. Ryan Glover headed the ball towards goal. From the angle, it seemed strange the keeper didn’t save it but a defender instead appeared to scramble it off the line. It came back out and Stead swept the ball into the net. However, the linesman’s flag was up. I sat motionless, telling The Wardrobe to sit down and stop being excited. Only to then see the ref signalling the goal had stood. Glover’s initial chance had apparently crossed the line. No idea myself. The only disappointment was to miss out on the goal reaction. All felt a bit VAR!
Barnet continued to exert pressure. Ndlovu should have made it two. A good save by Ross but it was a golden opportunity to break his duck wasted. Whilst it was pleasing to be 1-0 up the break, it should have been more.
Any notion that Maidenhead might get back into this was quickly dispelled early in the second half. Mark Shelton once again in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball away on forty seven minutes. A real shrewd bit of business he’s been.
By the 50th minute, Zak Brunt should have had us 4-0 up. Two chances went begging, along with another close effort in the first half; he could have had a match ball. His post match tweet about shooting practice acknowledged he’d not had his finest day in front of goal. Happens sometimes. He made a positive contribution in other ways.
With twenty minutes left, he got an assist to his name and the impressive Idris Kanu finished well to complete the scoring. 3-0, game over. It was a very satisfying team goal which was a decent reflection of some of the lovely popping around of the ball we’d been treated to.
Kanu’s recent form has him looking more like the prospect he was eighteen months ago. With rumours swirling a few days ago about league interest, will he still be a Barnet player this time next week?
Maidenhead showed a little bit of adventure after going three down and had one effort well blocked by Tavares from close range. Of course it was. Such a composed, solid individual. No coincidence this upturn in defensive fortune has featured him in the back line consistently. Arguably, the return of Collinge to his proper position also a contributing factor. It’s going to be tough for Oluwo to get back in.
As last week, Owen Evans looks so confident with the ball at this feet. A couple of slightly near moments towards the end - but he didn’t look phased. His outlook can only really inspire confidence in both those in front of him on the pitch and us in the stands.
The final stages petered out without too much further event. On another day, it could have been a similar score to Tamworth back in August. As it was, a 3-0 cruise is just fine.
It was more than fine in the context of what went on elsewhere in the National League. York’s surprise 3-1 defeat at Boston gave us a most unlikely of reasons to be cheerful. Boston now onto 19 points - 6 of which have come against the Minstermen. Funny old game.
Forest Green snatched a late point at Altrincham. A shame, but for those two to only manage a point between them - I think we’ll take that. Some enjoyable excited reactions when the Boston goals filtered through via people’s phones.
Back on top of the league and a big opportunity to put some distance between us and the rest on Tuesday night.
Hartlepool at home is by no means a given, but it’s a huge chance for us to really stake a claim. The momentum is with us and it’s vital we keep it going. Whilst York still have a game in hand, the goal difference is now the same. We could kick off next Saturday’s fixtures six points in front of them.
It’s been a very positive start to the new calendar year. The unbeaten home record in tact. 13 unbeaten in the league. 3 consecutive clean sheets. 4 more winnable games to play before the big showdown with York.
Even if you’re not yet quite ready to believe, you can’t say this isn’t all very exciting…
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