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Bah Humbug
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Nine point Christmas fixtures start Boxing Day this year, right?
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By:
Max Bygraves
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21/12/2025
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This article has been viewed 340 times.
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“Well that…was fucking dreadful.” [Will McKenzie, The Inbetweeners (2008)]
We try to avoid to be profanity-ridden in these write ups, but sometimes only certain words or phrases will do. This is one of those occasions. Not much festive cheer or an afternoon to remember.
I had actually resigned myself to this being my first missed home league game of the season. Poorly kids at home this week, I had assumed they’d not be up to an afternoon at The Hive. Some serious bouncebackability this morning, however, and with the promise of a pre-match McDonald’s, they set off with me very enthusiastically. Whether this late change of circumstances proved to be a good thing or not, is not up for an awful amount of debate.
A little like Harrogate recently, Salford are another side I’ve missed us encounter previously. Had their owners seen the rate of success they initially achieved and clearly expected, this fixture perhaps wouldn’t have occurred again. However, since their promotion to League 2 in 2019, they’ve got somewhat stuck. Generally towards the right end of things but they’ve not managed to kick on. Perhaps this year will be the one; hard to make a judgement based on what they were up against in this one.
I knew I was taking a bit of a gamble pre-match by wearing my lucky Stone Roses t-shirt. It felt like a game we might need any extra advantage we might be able to acquire. Lucky no more. My worries that given the band’s connections to the location of our visitors it may work the other way, came to be warranted. I’m sorry, everyone.
Arriving at the ground, it was an easy amble up to the turnstile. As easy as it can be with two small kids, anyway. They’ve both mastered the routine of getting scanned through and waiting on the other side. What we hadn’t accounted for was me not being able to quickly locate the right QR codes of the various regulars who couldn’t attend. It’d be fair to call it a scramble, especially with the well-intentioned but unhelpful help of a steward. A moment of real panic came once I had successfully scanned the two of them through and then couldn’t find my season ticket. A huge thank you to another steward who came to my rescue having found my card dropped next to the bag search table. Relief, and in our seats just as the whistle blew.
I’m not going for any great description or break down of many of the proceedings here. It was a tough watch from the off. Just really bad.
Callum Stead perhaps should have done better with an opportunistic moment where he received the ball over the top and sent a wayward ball to Assombalonga. I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but I really struggle with some of the vitriol being sent his way. He’s still a matter of months into his first experience of league football and has credit in the bank. Yes, it’s not endless, but his output has been ok and we know the quality he has. A wobble in results can impact both individual and collective confidence. I can’t see how having a go at him has any sort of positive outcome.
What wasn’t positive was five awful minutes towards the end of the first half. The first goal was a defensive disaster class. The second, not much better, but the way it came off Ofoborh and went in in slow motion felt a bit cruel. It was one of those days when you knew once that trickled in, we were getting nothing.
Half time was a little different this week with the kids. Noughts and crosses on a drawing pad to keep entertained and warm at a table in the bar. I was worried this could be one to deter them long term.
The start of the second half did little to change this. Before the hour mark we were 0-3 down. Maybe some contention about a foul in the build up but it felt like if it wasn’t this one, it would have come from another. Just all very bleak. I did take a moment to think that this is the Barnet I really know. We’ve been so spoilt in the last three and a half years of top 5 finishes. As alluded to with some of the comments chucked Stead’s (and others) way, people can lose perspective very quickly. Spoilt, indeed.
As the clock ticked past 60, I have no qualms in admitting to you that I was quite happy to call it a day and head for the warmth of home. The last thing I want is my kids feeling forced to stay at miserable football during these early days. They, however, had other ideas. Despite a few grumbles as to ‘how long,’ this one was, neither were willing to go early on account of wanting to get their autograph books signed after the game. I’ve made my own problems here.
So, we sat through the further thirty minutes of toil that lay ahead. It did feel long. There wasn’t much to talk about. Joe Kizzi stepping out of the freezer (via injury and a loan at Enfield Town) was not something that we felt likely to see this season. His first appearance since January 4th 2025 in the FA Trophy. He actually probably put in the best defensive shift of any of them today. All credit to him for clearly working exceptionally hard to get back. You’d have thought even he’d have probably resigned himself to not playing league football again. Be interesting to see if this is a one off or if he can complete a most remarkable of returns.
On 89 minutes, we just about grabbed a consolation. It went back and forth a couple of times following some decent saves before Hawkins finally put the ball in the net. Hard to get over excited about, other than some bloke dressed in a bee costume (not Mr Bumble) running up and down the front of the stand celebrating wildly. Looked maybe like a stag. Was the real stitch up being taken to Barnet v Salford City for the occasion?
The final whistle after 96 minutes offered sweet relief. A thoroughly unenjoyable spectacle from start to finish. Although just to point out, this marked our first consecutive league defeats since August. Conversely, you could say it’s now 1 win in 9. How much exactly is in your glass?
Despite being more than happy to finally head home, the kids were insistent on getting those autograph books filled. So we went and stood in the dark and cold outside the player’s entrance.
I have to say though, this was quite an uplifting way to end proceedings. Danny Collinge asking both of them what they’ve asked Father Christmas for was really impressively heart warming stuff. Proper captain’s behaviour despite the context. What a good bloke. They left absolutely buzzing. Commendable mentions to Kane Smith, Britt Assombolonga and Lee Ndlovu, too.
It was also nice to get Ade Oluwo’s signature on the kids’ shirt from last season where they’re collecting signatures of all the champions. A man we can only wish the very best to. I don’t know if there was any more context to this but there was another Barnet fan there who had waited for him to give him the gift of a cake. Genuinely.
Despite the disappointment of back to back defeats, we remain 13th. The play offs edge further away and perhaps a little bit of acceptance on how likely our role to play in that scene this year is now begins to play out. Repeating myself but it’s all about perspective. For a new to the division Barnet side, we are in a much better place than we have been before.
Newport, Bristol Rovers and Crawley in the next eleven days. On paper, there’s nothing to say that can’t or shouldn’t be nine points. Were that to happen, it all looks and feels very different again. Not too much to worry about either way at this stage, don’t let it spoil your Christmas.
As a quick footnote, bit of an own goal by the club to switch the interviews from YouTube to BFCTV. Can see the idea behind it but it’s not the right one. Make it easy for everyone again, please. Nothing will be going viral on a platform no one watches.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for another year of reading these ramblings.
Newport on Boxing Day? Unlikely, but let’s not rule anything out just yet.
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