Season 2022-23 in review: Part Two

The second and final part of last season is here

Ahead of Barnet FC returning to pre-season training on Monday morning for the 2023-24 season here is the second instalment which bring us to the end of last season, so settle in, grab a cuppa and read on:

2023 began with two draws, a Ben Wynter goal rescued a point in the return at Boreham Wood whilst Gateshead frustrated the Bees again but not for the last time.

FA Trophy progress at the hands of Solihull Moors saw a few of the top sides also begin to drop out of competition, some believing their might not be a better time to head to Wembley.

An immaculate hat-trick from Nicke Kabamba saw off play-off rivals Chesterfield at The Hive after the Spireites had declared interest in the top scoring front man. The month concluded with the first of six consecutive away game, an assured double over Eastleigh in a controlled performance where only Wrexham and Notts County had won prior.

February was brutal. The Eastleigh win was followed up by consecutive 3-1 wins, Jimmy Dean’s new look Scunthorpe dispatched on a Friday night followed by Halifax the Tuesday after with a debut goal from Harry Smith.

More FA Trophy progress as relegation threatened Torquay Utd were consigned to the pile of National League clubs out of the competition, a trip to another bottom four side Maidstone Utd the reward in the quarter-finals.

The run ran out of legs over the next seven days, Notts County matched for 60 minutes before tired bodies scummed to a 4-1 defeat. Torquay gained a small measure of revenge the following Saturday with the league points staying in Devon.

The games were coming thick and fast and Altrincham inflicted a third defeat in a row midweek, a game where enough chances were created to win three games. The rot was stopped in the middle of three home games as Aldershot were put to the sword as Courtney Senior notched a first Barnet goal.

However, Oldham left The Hive on another Tuesday night game, the Bees beginning to look a little off colour, was the season starting to stretch too far chasing glory on two fronts?

March certainly produced more ups than downs, it opened with a superb 1-0 win at play-off rivals Southend whose form had dipped dramatically since that win at The Hive, indeed only two days earlier were they granted High Court permission to play on.

An abject performance at Dorking Wanderers saw the Surrey side complete a double over the Bees, who then promptly went on another run of form.

A fabulous day in Kent saw Barnet into the FA Trophy semi-finals for the first time since 1972, Laurie Walker the hero with penalty saves and Gateshead to stand in their way of a Wembley final.

A hard fought win over a Yeovil side fighting for their lives was followed by taking a point from title hopefuls Notts County, a game by all accounts the Bees should have won.

A rare midweek off for all bar Ryan De Havilland on England C duty, the noisy neighbours were silenced once again in front of the BT Sport cameras, Kabamba and Harry Pritchard ensuring the Bees had two win, two clean sheets and two goals in each game.

A tough point in midweek against a Woking side desperate for third place ended the month, Barnet still firmly in the play-off place’s but with a lot to do if they were to hunt down Woking and Chesterfield.

The final month of the season in April. And it began in dramatic fashion with the FA Trophy semi-final. A three goal lead for the Heed looked to have booked their place at Wembley after just 25 minutes.

Manny Fernandez had one back just before half time and when Harry Pritchard notched a second with 25 minutes to play there was every chance of the comeback which was completed, 90+12 minutes Pritchard again stole a march and the game went straight to penalties, only for the Bees to fluff their lines and the northern side to be playing under the arch in May.

The remainder of the month can best be described as a damp squib, a 1-0 defeat 48 hours later gave York the double, Easter weekend draws against Kent sides Bromley and Maidstone saw the play-off chase become that little bit tigher.

Wrexham in front of the BT Sport cameras saw a second successive 0-0 draw, the hosts unlikely not to pick up all three points. Midweek a Harry Smith goal gave the Bees a 1-0 win over Solihull Moors and confirmed their deserved play-off spot.

That match marked the final midweek game of the season with the side having played every single midweek since the end of January bar the one England C game, definitely a record and credit to the boys who dug in deep at times.

The season finished with a draw at Maidenhead and defeat at home to Ben Strevens’ Dagenham & Redbridge, the play-off’s extending the season by at least a few days and no time yet to put the feet up.

As results went on the final day it was a local derby to contest on the Tuesday night once again in front of the BT Sport cameras as Boreham Wood came to The Hive.

Their experience told on the night as they managed game perfectly to take a 2-1 win and onto Notts County, Barnet’s season was done but finished having exceeded a lot of expectations both around and outside of the club.

5^th spot and Trophy semi-finals, Wembley beckoned twice but never arrived, but the good news is there is another season to make it count in less than eight weeks’ time.

Successful? In some respects yes. Overachieved? Compared to where most of us predicted to be yes. Pressure on next season? Absolutely, more foundation stones laid, but second season to do well is certainly much tougher, can we do it? Strap in and once again, enjoy the ride…….

Feel free to add your predictions and expectations in the comments below.