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Late Is Great
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Nothing beats a last minute winner
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By:
Max Bygraves
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21/08/2024
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This article has been viewed 447 times.
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It’s good to be back. Having been unable to attend anything up to now, it was definitely an over-riding feeling of excitement ahead of a Tuesday night visit from Forest Green. Some people would seriously question that sentence.
However, along with any feeling of excitement, as The Wardrobe and I walked towards the turnstiles, I’d be lying to say a little trepidation didn’t come over me. Flashbacks of Solihull. That sad, rain-soaked departure from a last visit here in late April very much coming back to mind. Maybe this year it’ll be different?
Prior to arrival, I’d also had the unusual experience of attempting to get to the game by public transport. What an absolute pig of a journey. There’ll be lots more on the Bring Barnet Back agenda in the next few months, but this certainly put it at the forefront of my mind whilst sat on the most putrid smelling of buses going very much around the houses. Managing to sort a lift mid-journey from my kindly companion and cutting such a grim experience short was greatly appreciated.
At the ground, the usual nods and hellos to people you haven’t seen since the last home game. There’s something very comforting about the familiarity of it all, isn’t there?
Pre-match optimism wasn’t in abundance when a Kabama-less Barnet side was announced. He was overheard at full time (on his way down from the commentary box) saying something about going for a scan tomorrow. Here’s hoping it’s nothing serious. Collinge was also not in the squad (reason unknown) and up against Forest Green’s impressive summer recruits, there was certainly reason for some concern.
However, once the game began, it quickly fell into a pattern that didn’t change too much for most of the evening. Barnet dominated the ball and our visitors appeared largely happy to sit back and soak up the pressure. We knocked it about very nicely, akin to some of the early season football we were treated to last campaign. If we can maintain this style throughout, it’ll be a decent viewing experience regardless. The quality of the pitch no doubt also helped the zippy passing game. Credit where it’s due for the work done there over the break.
For all the nice football, much in the way of a clear cut chance was lacking. Forest Green are a big side and for all his endeavours, Calum Stead was at times getting a little lost in the land of the giants. Idris Kanu was full of the usual trickery but end product reminding why he’s still with us at this level - for now, anyway. The one point of frustration was the idea that knocking the ball into the air in the box was something worth doing. One free header from Stead aside, chances via this route were always going to be at a premium given the physical difference between our attack and their defence.
0-0 at half time was perfectly acceptable and we were undoubtedly in control. However, anyone who has seen Barnet play before knows how such a situation can often transpire.
There was definitely a sense, as the second half progressed, that it might be one of those days where the chance doesn’t come. Possession, possession, possession but not much more. Our visitors were seemingly more than happy with a point by now and were not really in the least bit adventurous. In saying that, our defence were exceptionally well marshalled and looked in control throughout. Oluwo recovering one slightly nervy moment about as hairy as things got. Kizzi in particular looks a fine bit of business in that department.
In the 73rd minute, a game changing moment. Forest Green’s Sean Long received a second yellow card and was sent off. I must admit, I’d missed the first one at the end of the first half - the surprise second yellow for the fan really is a moment to enjoy. As he took the despondent walk towards the new tunnel, there was a palpable feeling around the ground at the opportunity this presented.
Immediately, there was more impetus on the pitch. The pace quickened as The Bees stepped things up in search of a winner. The crowd responded to this, too. The new safe standing area not yet open meant we had the excitable youth at the back of blocks E and F as last season. They very much played their part and the atmosphere was decent as attempted to roar the team on to victory. It’ll be interesting to see what opening that section up from the next match does to the atmosphere in the main stand.
The introduction of Harry Chapman from the bench was almost equally as significant as the red card. He gave a whole new energy to the team and looked excellent on the ball. If we can keep him fit and get the best from him, judging on this run out, he could prove to be an incredibly exciting capture.
The board going up for seven additional minutes prompted another roar of encouragement from the stand as tired legs continued to try and find a way. In the third of those seven minutes, we did.
Brunt fed a hopeful ball through to the once again fantastic Stead who managed to wiggle and dance his way around the defender, to lay it off to another substitute, Hall-Johnson. His exquisite weighted pass into the box put the game on a plate for the incoming Brunt who simply devoured it. A cool finish past the goalkeeper; what a moment.
Zak Brunt wheeled off in front of one of the most wet, abject looking away followings I can recall seeing cupping his ear before heading towards the home fans. Great scenes down the front as several youngsters poured forward to get near the players. Watch out for some absolutely exceptional movement from one young chap in the celebration melee, leaving a steward utterly bamboozled. All good fun.
After four minutes of a very loud rendition of the very simple “Bees are going up, ole ole,” from what felt like most of the stand, the ref blew for full time. Sighs or roars of relief all round. This felt big.
With the games coming thick and fast between now and the end of the month, quite how significant this goal was remains to be seen. I couldn’t help cast my mind back twenty years to the third game of that title winning season, when we pulled off a superb second half comeback at Halifax to win 2-3. That felt like the moment the players began to believe they could do something special, let’s hope this is the case for this moment and group, too.
Just a few days and we have the massive Southend United rolling into town. Of course they’ve sold their allocation. Of course they are complaining about not getting more tickets. Of course, they’ll be very active on Twitter come the weekend. You hope we can have some of the same fun we did last season, when we did a festive double over them. Another 1-0 win would be just fine by me, thanks.
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