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Lambs To The Slaughter
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Sometimes the headlines write themselves
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By:
Max Bygraves
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01/09/2024
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This article has been viewed 380 times.
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Wow. As above, sometimes I struggle for a headline for these but spoilt for choice after this magnificent seven. I could go on, but I’ll spare you all.
Tamworth are back in the National League after a decade’s absence, following a both impressive and unlikely back to back promotions, having charged to the National League North title last year from nowhere. They’ve kept together much of the squad that got them this success and have had some decent results so far, including a win against Aldershot last time out. From the first kick in this one, however, they very much looked like a lower league team and hugely out of their depth.
Twenty years ago, they had the audacity to come to Underhill when we were 13 points clear at the top of the league and hammer us 0-3, so let’s call this revenge.
Tamworth were certainly no great shakes, though let’s not take away from a superb performance. From minute one, Barnet were in absolute control and playing with pace and finesse The Lambs simply couldn’t cope with.
It took just seven minutes for Zak Brunt to open the scoring with a brilliant individual goal. This set the tone for what was to come. The visitors were being run ragged, dragged all over the place and looked pretty beleaguered pretty quickly from the intensity of it all.
Tamworth did force a save from Nick Hayes just after quarter of an hour. They had the ball a bit in our half too, with Christopher Wreh up front showing a few little nice touches. That was about the extent of it all.
It felt closer together in time watching live, but on 27 minutes it was 2-0. A whole twenty minute gap. The goal was given to Glover but appeared to take a big deflection on the way in. This was the turning point where you felt the visitors really hit the wall and Barnet went into overdrive.
Zak Brunt hit a beauty for number three just a few minutes later. There was only one place he could really put the ball and he struck it into the top corner perfectly. 3-0, game over. Now how many more?
It was as relaxed and jovial in the slightly sparse bar at half time as I can recall, with the job feeling very much already done. By no means do I wish to bring the mood of a 7-0 win down, but it looked like a poor crowd yesterday. It very much felt that 1372 included non-attending season ticket holders, given the number of gaps in the seats and how quiet downstairs was at the break. Hopefully everyone is back from their holiday for the next home game. On a Tuesday. The same night as England play. Yikes.
Before we move on to the second half, a half time discussion was had about ‘patterns’ in football and how things can be omens. Chesterfield’s 3-1 defeat at Maidenhead last season was alluded to as a bad one before their title win. More niche and historic was the statistical pull out that when we drew 1-1 at Burton in January 2005, this was the same as Chester (the previous league winners) the year before too. So basically, with that result at Maidenhead last time out, it’s wrapped up already. Credit (?) to Lego for this level of statdom. Don’t worry if you’ve got lost reading that; back to the game.
It felt like we’d only just re-started when a reckless tackle from a defence increasingly looking like they’d given up presented us with a penalty. Zak Brunt duly stepped up, dispatched it, and had a first career hat trick.
Watching him pick the match ball up at full time, it was nice to see the absolute delight it clearly brought him. Brunt is an absolute wizard on his day, but I’d be lying if I said sometimes when it’s not that day, he can be a source of frustration. I really hope an afternoon like this gives him the confidence to kick on and consistently produce his best form. When he’s at it, ability wise, there aren’t many better at this level. He’ll certainly continue to get the confidence of his manager who looked like a proud father acknowledging him at full time.
We’ve skipped ahead and risk missing all the fun. There was plenty more.
Mark Shelton had replaced Nik Tavares at half time and was again impressive in midfield. His afternoon high point came on the hour when his excellent curled effort from just inside the box made it 5-0. The finish was great but the passing in the build up was simply ridiculous. Utter filth. Smut.
It was getting laughably good now. On 62 minutes, Stead got in on the action to make it 6-0. Tamworth were all over the place and it felt at this point that as the onslaught continued, double figures weren’t out the question.
As always happens in these sort of games where someone is getting pulverised, there was a bit of a let up in terms of goals and chances. For ten minutes or so anyway.
On 76 minutes, Harry Chapman joined the party. Very much deserved for his attacking contribution throughout. He looks like a real coup.
I wasn’t at the famous 7-0 win over Blackpool in November 2000 and like many around me, was wracking my brains to recall a victory of this sort of margin witnessed before. 7-1 and a few 6-0s but never a gulf of 7. I’ll be honest, I got greedy and really wanted to see it get to 8, just for a new number. But we’ll take 7-0.
From some of the stuff we’ve played already this season, giving a team a lettering (when the number is spelt out on the vidiprinter for those unaware) like this definitely felt like a possibility. You have to feel this might not be the only time, too, now the players have seen they can do it.
Credit to the Tamworth players at full time. If not all, the vast majority went right over to the away end and seemingly offered apologies to the fans one by one with handshakes at the front. After two years of winning most weeks, it’s tough to take on the new role of relegation battlers. They’ve obviously got a fair bit of credit in the bank anyway, but that kind of gesture makes a big difference. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare over the season.
A sterner test awaits in the North East next Saturday. Gateshead have not been opponents we’ve enjoyed encountering over the past couple of seasons; losing both home and away last season. They sit top of the table and appear well over the setback of last season’s playoffs situation where they had to withdraw due to ground issues.
In some ways, it’s a great time to play them so it’s out of the way early. On the other hand, they’re in form and will massively fancy their chances. It should be a cracking game between two proper footballing sides. Hopefully we’ll take a few up there and finally put the horrors of that day in the FA Trophy to bed. Hoping it’s time to crack out the Alice Deejay next Saturday evening.
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