We Roll On

Fun in the sun at The Hive

It’s extremely rare I attend two Barnet home games in a row, not because I don’t want to but a variety of reasons. Many of you know I have a lot of different projects on the go and launched a brand new website for Sussex football this summer.

I could stay put and watch games around the county, but you also know I like to get around to watch as many different teams as I can, catch up with as any great people around the non-league game and expand my network as far as I can.

My travel isn’t easy. Every single one of you I know as fan contributes however you can, no one is any less of a supporter for however many games they watch or whatever they do in my eyes.

If I’m honest I’d rather take the train more often, but the unreliability of the service over the last two years if I drive then I know I’m getting home! Tuesday was a pain, almost 4 hours to get to The Hive, 3hrs 15 minutes to get home, not the best.

At best the drive up is what it is, but going home should be done in just under 2 hours, it does make you question life choices. But when the youngest wanted to go and catch up with the gaffer, and of course me wanting to see the reaction to ‘that interview’, off I went again!

The drive up not so bad, and there in time to catch the gaffer before the game, I rarely arrive in time to make that happen. If you haven’t seen me before kick off in Legends over the last two games well that’s because I’ve moved, over to the dugout side.

I’ve always preferred to stand at football matches, been doing it since I was 8 years old. As you see from my journey times I spend enough time sitting down, I want to stretch my legs for 90 minutes! But I will be back Legends side for the Fylde game.

I wasn’t close enough to hear on Tuesday evening, but I saw the instant reaction when it happened, anyway that’s bye the bye and done. Glorious sunshine greeted us instead of the wet stuff endured on Tuesday night (but dry under the roof if you pick the back three rows).

Many were looking forward to the return of the goalscoring legend John Akinde in Braintree colours. I was too, but more so for the son of ex-Barnet striker Kevin Lisbie, Kyrell.

I saw this lad rip up the Isthmian South East Division consistently last season, pace and I mean real pace and an eye for goal. I tipped him off to a couple of National League managers, wasn’t a surprise to see him end up at our level, raw but absolutely something to work on.

A touch disappointed to see him on the bench, but also relieved knowing what he can do. The start, well not what we expected, our attack on their goal line cleared to Akinde, rolled Ade Oluwo, sped away and slotted past Nick Hayes, less than a minute on the clock.

Now, the reaction I was interested in! Silence. Nothing said around the tunnel block. Now a test to see what both the team and the crowd would do in response.

Well, the Bees wasted no time in going down the pitch and levelling things up minutes later as Mark Shelton swept the ball home for the equaliser. On 17 minutes Barnet were in front a deliciously flighted cross from Harry Chapman, the right movement from Callum Stead and a glancing header past Lucas Covolan.

An ’injury’ breather for the Iron keeper gave the visitors the chance to regroup, but there was little evidence it worked. Stead should have had a hat-trick by half time, hitting the post with another effort and a lack of composure back heeled past the post instead of turning and firing home, the scoreline wouldn’t have been unjust.

The second half was a different story, much different. Braintree asked a lot of questions for most of the half, superb keeping from Hayes kept us in front when needed but little penetration for the majority from the Iron.

Barnet needed a third goal and duly got it on 83 minutes, a patient passing move once again and Zak Brunt danced his way through to the bye-line, his cross turned in by the Iron skipper George Langston.

The Bees saw out the remainder of the game to make it five wins from five at The Hive, what should have been a more comfortable scoreline and no disrespect to the visitors.

Dean called it afterwards the worse performance of the season. I’d prefer to say we didn’t reach the levels collectively today; some did but quite a few didn’t.

Shelton I felt was very good, had acres of space which he mostly used well and without a fully fit centre forward goals from him and Chapman during the week are going to be crucial all season long.

Glover again was a menace down that right wing and then on the left, he’s a great asset to have brought in even after the group was set from the summer.

Ben Coker I thought was excellent on his return from injury, his positioning all over the park and delivery into the box was on the money, couldn’t really ask for more.

Hayes had arguably his best game so far, controlling his six yard box and distribution out was spot on, clearly listened from Tuesday night and learnt, good to see. Give the lad a chance though, I know many have a soft spot still for Laurie, time moves on and players move on, he’s our keeper now, let’s get behind him.

Caught up with the gaffer after the game too, and a chance to meet the opposition man Angelo Harrop too, very, very lucky to get these insights and always plenty to share versus plenty to keep to the confines of the manager’s office.

The last word goes to John Akinde. We knew he’d score, 99% were hopeful he did but we win the game, played out perfectly. However, after that goal the 89 minutes showed why it has always been the right decision in the last couple of years not to bring him back.

We press from the front for 90 minutes, that’s not his game and never has been, and no he wouldn’t have done a job from the bench. While we all have more than fantastic memories of his legend time here, that would have tarnished it massively in my opinion and I respect yours wholeheartedly.

Nice to get a look in my direction and a thumbs up from the big man as he disappeared down the tunnel, memories made, memories to be created with this exceptional squad we have in front of us……

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