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Go Steady
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Gills hit for six as Callum hits five but it proved a bridge too far for seventh…
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By:
Max Bygraves
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26/04/2026
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This article has been viewed 114 times.
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In that football small talk with people who don’t support your team that ask you questions about them, I lost count how many times I said last summer, “Yeah, I think we’ll do ok, solid mid table - my best hope is we have a shot at the play offs still and something to aim at going into the final games.” The absolute dream ending hasn’t quite happened, but based on this, can’t really grumble, can I?
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one still very much on cloud nine from last Saturday, until about 9:45 on Tuesday evening. For the second week in a row, the stoppage time actions of Grimsby Town causing us anguish. Their late winner at Cambridge leaving us with a huge mountain to climb and requiring an awful lot of good fortune. The league table of course doesn’t lie and we have our own story to tell, but Grimsby have very much played their part in our ending. Personally, I’d be pleased if they go up via the play offs - don’t want to see them for a while.
Nevertheless, the feel-good factor was there as the day dawned for the penultimate fixture of the season. The standard late April, just about t-shirt and shorts weather for the final home game. Unless you’re in the mire at the wrong end, I feel like these games are always surrounded with an upbeat feeling of making the most of it before the summer break. We’d all looked at the permutations and knew what was required and there was a positive buzz about the place pre-match.
Arriving a little earlier than usual to catch the end of the Rochdale v York title shootout, the bar seemed to be running smoothly with the free pint for season ticket holders offering. Fair play. The tv not having the stated game as advertised earlier this week was a shame; not out of the ordinary for the Barnet bar experience you’d have to say. The forum suggests this wasn’t the only gripe for many. The same old tale. Anyway, thank you to the nice chap who let us watch over his shoulder on his phone the utter chaos of the stoppage time at Rochdale. Utterly unbelievable scenes.
Anyway, to our game. It was abundantly clear very soon after we kicked off that we meant business. Goals and points of our own were all we could control and the message from the manager was clearly being adhered to.
There were only six minutes on the clock when Callum Stead rose to nod home Ryan Glover’s cross. A simple, very satisfying goal. We were rubbing our hands together on our row, having all done the same 5-0 bet. Told you there was an optimistic buzz. It was on.
Or…not. Seven minutes later, Gillingham were level. A disappointing goal to concede although there did appear to be a foul in the build up. Bradley Dack squaring the ball to a young kid making his debut called Sullivan Booth. We commented at the time that it was a bit of a surprise just how much he celebrated the goal; knowing that context now, fair enough.
In games pre mid-March, anything could have happened here. However, this is run-in Barnet we’re talking about. In no time at all, we found ourselves back in front. Some exceptionally unselfish decision making from Tshimanga teed Stead up to make it two.
Gillingham were rocking and we were very much rolling. Things got even more exciting when Stead completed his hat trick with just sixteen minutes gone. Great work by Critchlow in an advanced position found Stead, still with plenty of work still to do. A lovely dummy and then cool finish. Matchball.
Excitement levels were building. Chesterfield and Notts County were still drawing their games. Gillingham’s one dangerous moment of the game was dealt with via an incredible block from Tavares. This was proving a lot of fun.
We were left scratching our eyes and frantically texting the editor of this establishment in his stats cave after half an hour. Stead again. This was getting silly. 4 for Barnet, 4 for Stead and only 30 minutes played. We were really believing now.
And then there was football with its cruel pin to prick our joyous balloon. 36 minutes gone, Chesterfield 1-0 up against Crewe. You felt the mid table visitors needed to keep it to nil until half time for that to pan our way. It felt especially cruel given what we were being treated to.
Spirits were quickly raised further right on half time as Romoney Critchlow headed in a fifth. An absolute carbon copy of Stead’s first goal from a Glover cross. 5-1 up going into half time. What on earth!
Half time consisted of more permutation chat. Quite a bit of manifesting certain things to happen. All very silly really. It could not have felt more our day given proceedings here. Come on Crewe.
I got two texts in the second half from people who don’t support Barnet but had obviously checked the scores and thought of me. “You must be having an amazing afternoon!” said one of them. Their timing wasn’t great. It’s absurd to think winning 5-1 things can feel a little flat, but they did and with twenty two minutes left, they got a whole lot flatter.
The game was descending into feeling a bit like a friendly by now. Gillingham had made some changes. They’d had no impact. Jonny Williams with international tournament and Premier League experience coming on at 5-1 down felt a little degrading. Sam Vokes an unused sub. Maybe time to call it a day, lads.
We then made a quadruple switch and focus on the game subsided to give a minute’s applause on 64 to Lloyd Child. Well known to us via Twitter and many others too, it was very sad to hear of his sudden passing last week. Well done everyone for marking it.
This gave a bit of impetus to the crowd to cheer us on once more before it went really quiet. 2-0 to Chesterfield. Crewe weren’t mounting a comeback from there. This didn’t deter one of our lot from torturously watching along with the live text to that game on Bet365 (right to the end). It was done. So close yet so far.
Everyone perked up a little a few minutes later when we hit our sixth of the afternoon. Callum Stead inexplicably scoring for a fifth time. The first Barnet player to do so since Roger Figg back in 1964.
Stead was withdrawn from the action in the closing stages. A double hat trick would have been nice but equally, it felt right he got an ovation like he did. Credit to the Gillingham fans who applauded him as he went past the away end. Sometimes you have to acknowledge when a madness has happened against you. Irony that he allegedly was close to joining them in January not lost on anyone. Funny how things work out.
We had a seventh goal ruled out as we entered stoppage time. Shelton took it well but the flag was raised presumably for an offside. Moments later, a comedic effort almost bounced over their keeper. Seven would have been nice. Always enjoyable to hand out a lettering on the vidiprinter.
In the event, there was an eighth goal, surprisingly coming for the visitors. From Slicker’s reaction, you could see that despite the score this was a moment of annoyance.
I will say fair play to the sizeable Gillingham following. They sarcastically cheered their second goal with much enthusiasm but I couldn’t believe how many of them had stayed. Credit where it’s due, I’m not sure I’d have made it back out for the second half in their shoes. It was apparent that some had purposely hung around to air their views at full time. We’ve talked here before about how amusing it is watching other team’s fans lose their head at a sheepish side awkwardly clapping them after such a performance. They were singing something along the lines of, ‘we turn up, why don’t you?’ Fair to say they had a point.
We did the slightly awkward lap of a two sided ground (for home fans). Never really understand why they go into the tunnel and then come back out in this scenario. Either way, it was only right the players got the acknowledgement that they did. A valiant effort with lots of reason to look forward positively.
Ryan Glover did an extended applause, badge pat and blew a kiss. It felt like a very much expected goodbye, and good luck to him. He’s shown what a professional he is after missing his January move and still approaching the rest of the season with the same enthusiasm as always. Let’s hope the move he gets is the right one for him and he kicks on at a higher level.
It’ll be interesting if that was Callum Stead signing off for good, too. Some way to bow out if so. Whatever happens, it’s very pleasing he came back in from the cold and got to play a proper part again. Scoring 5 in a game will no doubt alert a few potential suitors. He’s shown he can do it in League 2. I’d love him to stay and think he could do a lot worse for himself and career. Whatever happens, another who has been a great servant to Barnet FC.
It’s guesswork with the rest. Collinge and Tavares could play higher, undoubtedly. Let’s hope we can hang on to them. Interested to see what the future holds for the likes of Hartigan and Shelton. There will no doubt be lots of new faces once more but the scale of the recruitment will be intriguing. Could less be more?
As you’ll have probably gathered, this is the final game I’ll be at this season. Unfortunately, Harrogate next week is a no go for me. Had we been in with a shout still, arrangements would have been attempted but other responsibilities make it unviable. A shame but in the context, I can live with it.
It’s been yet another positive season. It’s been said many times before but what Dean Brennan has done for this football club is nothing short of remarkable. He’s made the whole fanbase fall back deeply in love with the club. The feeling around the place is tangible. Go back a few years and the position we found ourselves in really didn’t seem possible.
Of course there’s disappointment (despite the over achievement) in missing out on the top 7 when we’ve ran it so close and finished as we have. It has to be acknowledged how obscenely well we’ve finished the season. Eight unbeaten with some corking wins in there. So many “if only” mentions prior to that, but no use dwelling on it.
This remains a glorious era and time to support Barnet. Expectation levels will be raised for August, set by Brennan himself. Based on his track record, why not? He’s shown himself to navigate challenges and find solutions to now. If he gets his recruitment right to the level he’s proven capable of before now, next year could be hugely exciting.
As ever, above all else, it’s been a lot of fun. Probably now enough years into the regular habit again to stop casting back, however, I still feel so pleased to have made the choice to dive back in four years ago after an extended hiatus. Fair to say it was a head first dive and I am very much swimming in the deep once more and I wouldn’t change it one bit.
Going to the football with mates, introducing it further to the kids, those friendly nods or quick hellos to people you don’t know particularly well but see every week. To coin a well used word at the club in the past few years; the togetherness. It’s what it’s all about.
It’s been great this season meeting more people in person we’ve interacted with via various internet mediums. The two of us that run that various bits of what Downhill Second Half does take a lot of enjoyment from it. Apart from the enjoyment because we’re nerds, the best bit is the interaction and feedback from all of you. Really appreciate those of you who’ve taken the time to read this and our many other ramblings over the course of the season.
We’ll be filling the close season void with various content via here and our social media accounts but already looking forward to August and getting back into the routine of it all.
Have a great summer. Cheers.
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