Wow. I’ll try not to take up too much of your time on what’s likely a busy day - but we couldn’t not mark this one.
Yesterday had been long earmarked on my kitchen calendar as a jovial celebration of all things Barnet and mates and it really didn’t disappoint. A fourth meeting with Boreham Wood in this calendar year. After what followed, the cliche of wishing it was every week would be very appropriate.
We started the game at a pace and from the off showed an aggression and desire that we meant business. A stupendous save from stocky nemesis Nathan Ashmore kept the scores level early on from a Pritchard effort.
But we wanted it in this one. This was September Barnet. Barnet with a purpose. Barnet with killer instinct.
A wonderful example of control and composure from Nicke Kabamba saw us take an early lead. Ice in his veins as he dispatched under Ashmore. Exactly what you want against this lot: an early goal.
Early dominance was built on. A great move was slid in at the back post from Pritchard. Our two talismen delivering when it mattered.
Before half time, Kabamba rifled a third beyond the despairing Ashmore. Beating the half time rush for the bar admittedly got in the way of that one. You just don’t expect it, do you?
A buoyant and busy half time downstairs - the same energy continued in the game early in the second half when our visitors were reduced to ten. A silly tackle saw red no less than five minutes into the second half and our bogey team were having their noses well and truly rubbed in it.
An early second half 4th from the impressive Hall-Johnson secured the points and sent many from the away end to an early departure. Easy. Some of us may have had £2 on 5-0 at 50/1 pre match. At this stage, it seemed like everything was falling into place...
Kabamba notched yet another Barnet hat trick from the penalty spot to make it five. It was a stroll by now and whilst absolutely no sympathy was spared for the monsters and creatures in grey, a moment’s thought was considered for what it was like to endure this. A bombardment in a lost local clash whilst being utterly humiliated. The ‘get us the fuck of our here’ was plastered all over their faces.
We had the audacity to kill my bet and add a 6th with a good eighteen or so minutes left. I did try to beat Bet365 to the button, but they don’t lose, do they do? Being a little disappointed at going 6-0 up is not too familiar an emotion. Initially credited to debutant Maguire-Drew, it was later marked as an own goal.
The rest was a procession. A stroll. A laugh. A breeze. Watching Garrard and Doyley behave like my three year old after being told no more ice cream was amusing. They’ve had their luck here. No qualms about watching them squirm. Just a shame we couldn’t compound it even further. No pointing at the pitch saying “this is my house,” this time from their Barnet born manager.
It was a fairly prompt departure at full time to go and enjoy several festive beers back in the Railway Tavern in New Barnet. ‘Festive’ makes everything acceptable, doesn’t it? Not so sure about that today, mind.
Merry Christmas one and all. Onto Boxing Day at Southend (TV for me, unfortunately) to continue the pursuit of a nine point Christmas…
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