Barnet 2-1 Eastleigh (National League)
If Barnet win all their remaining games this season, and Chesterfield lose all theirs, the Bees will be champions of the National League and promoted back to the Football League for the first time since they were relegated from the ‘92’ in 2018.
Slim pickings and unrealistic as the Spirietes have outright promotion destiny in their own hands, 24 points clear at the top of the table with just seven games remaining, I think it’s safe to say they’ll do it.
Barnet in second place do however have their own pride and points to play for, by winning and securing a top three slot in the division, they’ll avoid a ‘KO’ tie ahead of a playoff semi-final which by finishing second, or third, will be played at home, so much incentive to keep winning and avoid any potential slip ups.
Eastleigh got hammered at the weekend by Rochdale, they’re keeping their heads above water in the relegation fight but it’s tight down the bottom with just six points separating 23rd and 13th, one of those in the survival fight, Woking, beat Barnet on Saturday 1-0.
I’ve never been to the Hive. It’s been on my bucket list for a while and on Monday morning it’s suddenly appeared in my diary that I’ll be needed, so without hesitation I’m emailing the club for a ticket, by Tuesday lunch I’m told where I can collect it, and I’m in my Merc for 3pm, heading south down the A46 towards Leicester, M1 past Luton and off at junction 4 where I stop off at a McDonalds in Edgware and fill up on my own much needed fuel.
The Venue
Originally built for Wealdstone FC the clubs then investment partners went into liquidation during 2003 and the local council placed the lease up for tender and it was Barnet, who in needing a home, took on the site soon to be called 'the Hive', originally for training purposes.
By 2013 the club moved from their Underhill Stadium to the redeveloped complex which has several 4g pitches adjacent, but there’s been recent requests to get Barnet back home, as Canons Parks is a good six miles away, the ground as I pull up off a side street on Camrose Avenue, hidden behind a housing estate of 3 and 4 bed 20th century semis.
There’s a few kitted out youngsters outside the gates, “you want a ticket” one says? I’m thinking it’s youth team players touting their freebies but in fairness they’re trying to give it away, “we’ve got one extra” I’m told “you can have it if you want it”.
I tell them “I’ve got one in the bag” as I walk away and hear them shout out to their next punter “excuse me sir”.
On my lengthy walk through the car park and past the many five a side pitches I’m joined by a ‘walking footballer’ who asks me “don’t you prefer a game with us tonight”. “I would love it” I reply, “but don’t think I’m old enough”. I’m told the cut off is fifty and up but kudos to the old bloke who thought I could make the grade, I ask him if he’s ever tempted to get into a jog when playing “Oh no” he replies sternly, “we don’t allow that”… “Not even a little burst” I reply?
As I wish him well and to ‘have a good blowout’ I reach the glass fronted ticket office in the corner of the post millennial built stadium, I tell the young man behind the counter ‘I’m collecting’ and ticket in hand i'm on to the turnstiles, operated by a scanner and a red or green light, nothing more, I’m finally in after a couple of attempts as the rain starts to fizzle around in the air, it’s that really fine stuff which gets you wet, as opposed to the really hard stuff which does exactly the same.
Inside the arena, I find myself standing at the players tunnel entrance, eerily quiet there’s a couple of photographers, a couple of stewards and the Eastleigh media team of two sitting down as a tube train goes by behind the stand on the far side.
To my right, stand 66, the name why, I have no idea? Behind the goal, it’s an all seated modern metal number that sits alone, almost identical to the one opposite where I’m stood, the Legends stand, which is an orange seated roofed stand running the length of the pitch, far side is nothing but a grassy bank, the stand I’m in, has a couple of rows of seating, and a platform for disabled spectators which backs on to the Hive Bar, a modern drinking establishment packed with flat screen TV’s. The view from the press area is two rows high, level with the pitch you are close to the action and even closer to the dugout, as TalkSport’s Moose walks by and gives me a nod to say ‘hello’.
The Game
There’s only a few in tonight, the rain is falling as the Moose takes selfies with fans, he’s collared the Dorking and Bromley managers on scouting missions for a snapshot as a fella walks in the ground holding a cuddly toy monkey. Club Mascot Mr Brumble looks to have some competition.
The two teams walk out to Guns & Roses ‘sweet child o’ mine’ as the sparse crowd applauses, a handful of no more than fifty in the far side of the stand to my right, Eastleigh away, far side has scatterings of Barnet fans with a drummer boy somewhere at the back, making a racket not entirely in sync with his fans, he's certainly no Steve Adler.
As the Moose perches up behind me and takes a chunk out of his chocolate bar the action is underway on a skiddy slippery surface in front, and the home side look to have had a rocket up the arse from Manager Dean Brennan (who’s serving a touch line ban) after defeat in Woking at the weekend.
Barnet do things quickly, throw-ins and goal-kicks are taken almost as soon as the ball goes out, back in play as the team look to catch their opponents knapping. Eastleigh have five across the back, although their wing-backs are more like wingers, frustrated they have to defend, their Manager Kelvin Davis keeps talking to Enzio Boldewijn who doesn’t seem comfortable in the job he’s asked to do.
It’s a good start from Barnet who play neat passes and get it wide, they don’t complicate things, they use their left wing to get as many crosses in as they can, and after an array of corners take a deserved lead on 18, Dale Gorman with a bit of space outside the area, he lets fly with an absolute belter that rockets into the net.
The Score
Barnet are good value, another cross into the box is curled in, headed up in the air and young Gatlin O’Donkor, on loan from Oxford City, acrobatically volleys his temporary home into a two goal lead, it’s been one way traffic and is Barnet’s to lose from here.
They sense going for the killer blow, like Anthony Joshua against Andy Ruiz in New York, they have sent men forward for their umpteenth corner, it’s cleared and somehow Chris Maguire has the freedom of the pitch to run through and score, unattended, a quick brake due to defensive negligence, Barnet from control to on the canvas, Eastleigh back in it ahead of half time, a goal that gives them a much needed lift.
At the break Ben Strevens, a former Barnet player and former Eastleigh manager, is having a chat on the touchline, looking dapper in a light padded knee length coat as the rain continues to fall. It feels like a non-league ‘this is your life’ as there’s plenty of recognisable faces, I’m just better with names than faces so struggle to recognise most of who’s who.
The second half action underway, and Eastleigh spurred by their lifeline are more game, more physical, more front footed during a second half where Barnet look to defend and break on their opponents.
The hosts aren’t nearly as good as they were in the first 45 but credit the away team who have a real plucky go, one big save is made by Laurie Walker but he’s kept relatively quiet, at the other end Gorman tries to replicate his earlier effort from distance but blasts well wide, in the end the Spitfires falling short but they’ll be upbeat that they can survive the relegation fight from taking on a team who have a real good opportunity to be playing in the Football League come August.
The Stars
Barnet’s teenage on-loan striker Gatlin O’Donkor took his goal really well, whilst next to him in attack, Nick Kabamba, the clubs leading scorer was busy, wiry, positive in his play and a real menace in particularly in the first half for Eastleigh’s three centre halves to handle.
The away side had one stand out in particular, right sider Oscar Rutherford was a lovely looking footballer, silky and skilful on the ball he looked always to beat his man and had very good close control, their main threat Paul McCallum missing for the evening whilst on England ‘C’ duty.
The Verdict
Barnet are certainly the division’s best of the rest after 39 matches played, seven to go they’ll be best hoping for a top three finish so they go straight into the playoff semi-finals with two further potential cracks at promotion.
Eastleigh might be looking over their shoulder in an extremely competitive fight to stay up, but they have plenty of tools to be good enough, but more of their second half performance please, if they believe in themselves a little more, they certainly have some players that can hurt opponents and playing to those attacking strengths is what they need to ensure they’ll be a National league club next season.
The Teams
Barnet: Laurie Walker, Reece-Hall Johnson, Ben Coker (Idris Kanu 77), Danny Collinge (Jordan Cropper 83), Jerome Okimo, Dale Gorman, Nicke Kabamba, Anthony Hartigan, Gatlin O’Donkor (Jordan Maguire-Drew 63), Adam Thompson, Zak Brunt.
Eastleigh: Joe McDonnell, Nigel Atangana (Luke Croll 46), Ludwig Francillette, Ben Reeves, Jake Taylor (Solomon Nwabuokei 84), Enzio Boldewijn, George Langston, Lee Hodson, Chris Maguire, Scott Quigley, Oscar Rutherford.
7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 19th March 2024, The Hive, London (att 1,018).