Feel like I need to start this one with an apology for the last article. I don’t actually know if I need to, but I woke up on Sunday morning last week with all the feelings of someone who’d sent a drunk text to their ex. Couldn’t tell you what was written in an emotional, alcohol-filled haze whilst on a train less than an hour after the Chesterfield game. I won’t be checking. Thanks if you took the time to read it, but we swiftly move on. Just the one pint, today.
I have to admit, all week I’d felt a little flat at the prospect of this game. Whilst last Saturday’s outcome wasn’t unexpected, the nature of the way it happened was a tough one to take. It was a disappointing day and that rankled in the aftermath.
It seems, in the event, the players also perhaps were similarly flattened by the defeat in Derbyshire. Once again, a match against Gateshead proving not one we want to remember for too long…
There was much excitement prior to the game about a big event off the pitch. The new scoreboard (or rather, screen), installed on the main building side of the ground. It was there. It was real. And it worked! It may have taken an age, but undoubtedly a very good addition to the place. Showing goals from previous games before was an added bonus. Definitely a good investment.
Similarly, there was an announcement on Friday night about a whole load of new merchandise in the club shop. Two big announcements in one day. What was going on?!
Once at the ground, only three out of six turnstiles working to get in and the longest bar queue of the season was reassuringly more in keeping with the expected Barnet experience. But steps in the right direction, anyway. A healthy turnout of 1894 (100 away) saw us profit from the top flight break - but sadly, we didn’t put on a show for any newcomers.
After a couple of brief positive early flashes, it didn’t take long for the game to be largely dictated by the visitors. Make no mistake, we weren’t at it, but they looked very good. A proper footballing side. They absolutely had our number.
Were Gateshead more clinical, there’s no way it would have been 0-0 at half time. I haven’t heard the expression ‘our goal is living a charmed life’ for a long while, but I believe this was the definition of it. Some strong saves by Walker and a couple of encounters with the crossbar meant we somehow went in all square at the break.
Half time saw a pretty strange scenario play out for my friends and I in the bar. Several hours later, I’m still trying to fathom what exactly was going on. The three of us were somewhat accosted by a supporter who is not shy in sharing his credentials with links to the club, with another regular closely watching on…
Last week at Chesterfield, one of our friends (who actually wasn’t in attendance today - quite importantly to this story!) had some choice words for Courtney Senior. I’d left the ground by this point but I’m told it wasn’t the most reasonable of tirades. It resulted in a verbal altercation with two other fans. My other regular furniture-based accomplice at games was stood next to our loud pal at Chesterfield, but this was the extent of it.
This led to this pretty bizarre situation at half time where these two gentlemen came and stood near us (maybe they decided we were guilty by association?!) looking over and chatting. Then the one who wasn’t there last week decided to strike up a false conversation (“poor first half, eh?”) presumably to either get a reaction or to suss us out. Within seconds, he’d dangled the line “I think we should bring on Courtney Senior,” with a pause, seemingly hoping for some sort of reaction. This appeared to be aimed at the person who was stood next to our friend at Chesterfield who politely asked if this was why he was speaking to him. None of us had ever spoken to this person before.
This was brushed off with something about how it’s all a game of opinions. His take that Laurie Walker is not good enough to play for Barnet was an interesting one. I’m not sure what point he was trying to prove but this very strange and almost passive aggressive chat wasted the entirety of our half time break.
With our ears ringing from all the clanging of name-dropping that took place, we finally escaped this nonsense once the second half restarted.
Whilst I understand the actions of one of our friends last week aggrieved other people, this was a very roundabout way of dealing with the issue. If the bloke who was upset reads this, could you not have just come and had a quiet word yourself? You’re more than welcome to next time - although I would add again, it was nothing to do with any of us in attendance at this game. Very odd.
The half time tone very much carried on, on the pitch. Within minutes of the restart, Gateshead made their control pay by taking an early second half lead.
There was a response, but it was tepid at best. A few half chances were created, but it didn’t feel like anything was going to lead anywhere.
Gateshead soaked it up and then delivered a killer blow with just over twenty minutes left. Some rather lacklustre defending led to a second for Wearne and Gateshead.
The fact most stayed until the end was testament to the character this team have shown many times already this season. But today, it wasn’t going to happen. Idris Kanu falling over when attempting a cross with about five minutes left summed things up well.
On today’s evidence, it would be a surprise if Gateshead aren’t in the top seven shake up come the season’s end. They look a really decent outfit and perhaps now over the trauma of their recent managerial departure, they could really be ones to watch.
Chesterfield losing at Southend compounded things further - although maybe we need to put them out of mind for now. Bromley are now very much on our tails. Forgetting everyone else, we just need to refocus and get back to the team we looked a few weeks ago.
Oldham in front of the tv cameras on Wednesday night offers a chance for a quick reprieve - although they wouldn’t be my ideal choice of opposition. A tough game awaits.
It can all turn around pretty quickly, though. Keep the faith.
|