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Braintree outnumbered, Barnet outgunned…
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By:
Max Bygraves
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06/04/2025
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This article has been viewed 385 times.
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The Keith Flint mural in the away end at Cressing Road is one of the finest quirks I’ve seen at any ground with Barnet. It is tempting to litter this article with Prodigy song titles. I just worry I might run Out Of Space.
The sun was shining in Essex and after some textual debate with others pre match, shorts and a light jacket were decided to be apt for the conditions. Spring is here. This ground definitely not one you’d want to visit on an April showers kind of day. Not a cloud in the sky as an impressive 874 queued and squeezed into the away end. Very unusually, we found ourselves with more of us than them. Everybody In The Place.
A very roundabout heavy journey on A and B roads from picking up the usual crew from their Hertfordshire base saw us arrive in Braintree about twenty minutes before kick off. It would have been slightly earlier without a petrol scramble two junctions before turn off. Bottle went when the light started flashing. And the price was higher than anywhere else seen en route. Not a good start. Was it an Omen?
We secured a very good parking space by the Orange Tree pub after some quick thinking from an unnamed passenger. A temporary traffic light sign was given the move of the necessary yards (sand bags ineffective) to provide us with an excellent spot. Didn’t want to upset the locals or Their Law, but needs must.
The first thing that was apparent after the slow shuffle into Braintree’s ramshackle abode was the state of the pitch. Sand everywhere to fill divots and not a lot of evidence of a sprinkler. Using The Heat to their advantage.
Braintree came out of the blocks quickly and it was a familiar face who was their Firestarter to provide the spark. John Akinde may be approaching 36 years of age but he rolled back the years and several defenders on a tough afternoon for Barnet. A nuisance, using his experience cleverly throughout, flanked by some useful accomplices.
In the first half hour, Owen Evans put forward an acrobatic claim for save of the season, clawing one out of the top corner. Soon after, he was in similarly impressive form down low, only for the flag to be raised anyway. Full Throttle from the Iron as we found ourselves in unusual territory.
This was a Wake Up Call for Barnet and very much against the run of play, Callum Stead finished well to drag an effort with his left foot into the bottom corner. With York having won in the early kick off, only a win would do for chasing down the title next Saturday.
Barnet’s surprise lead was short-lived. Our goal had fuelled their fire. The Lisbie brothers on either flank were a pain throughout and just five minutes after Stead’s goal, one of former Bees striker Kevin’s sons bagged a fine equaliser. Nothing Evans could do as the curled effort swept past him.
A rather overly obnoxious celebration followed with the youngster standing arms aloft in front of the away end, with his sibling also giving it. Hard to really understand the motivation but that’s The Way It Is. Several looked like they wanted to smack this bitch up but it was largely laughed off. Either Lisbie looked like they could be an asset to a League 2 side next year. I wonder…
Half time saw a busy outdoor bar behind the away end. A decent little set up there - I don’t understand why the likes of Boreham Wood and Woking don’t adopt similar arrangements for travelling fans. 2005 title winning captain Ian Hendon could be found milling about with a pint. Despite being pegged back, there was optimism aplenty as we prepared to Shoot Down our end.
However, once the second half started, the Action Radar would have showed things very much in our defending half. The Iron were resolute and took the game to us from the off. Always hard to properly work out how close an effort is from a view behind the other goal - but it looked like a number were painfully near. Not much debate that Evans was our best performer on a busy afternoon like he hadn’t seen before in a league game for Barnet.
We settled down slightly and made a few changes. Injuries to key players today didn’t help but those that came in were unable to have much impact. The pitch and opponents style certainly didn’t make things easy for anyone. There was a lot huffing and puffing, but World’s On Fire displays from no one.
As the clock ticked round, it wasn’t looking more and more like a hard fought point would be a decent return. However, what can only be described as No Good decision making by substitute Joe Grimwood allowed John Akinde the sort of opportunity he doesn’t miss out on.
The former Barnet striker got the better of the former Braintree centre back more than once. It was Nasty to watch. A sensible foul outside the box could have stopped it. This wasn’t made and then Akinde (pen) does what Akinde (pen) does. A foul in the box, for which we could have no complaints, saw the referee point to the spot. A red card for Grimwood after just six minutes on the field at his former employers.
In minute ninety, it was Akinde v Evans. Rather than going for his familiar, nonchalant rolled penalty, Big John gave it some Diesel Power and struck the ball firmly past the outstretched arm of the Bees keeper. A fine penalty to win the game for the hosts. Despite all around him going spare, it was a muted celebration. Having responded with that trademark smile to a number of chants from the away end over the course of the afternoon, this wasn’t a huge surprise. A lot of mutual respect remains.
By the dugout, some of the locals took great pleasure in celebrating the winner in front of Brennan. He’d appeared to have bitten back a little earlier on. We all know Brennan’s Got A Temper - he didn’t respond this time however.
Five minutes of stoppage passed with little incident. It was one of those days and the hosts were good value for their win. They’ve have now beaten Barnet, York and Forest Green at home. Braintree, the Voodoo People of the top sides.
It was a very unusual feeling as the players trudged towards the large away contingent for an applause. A first defeat since October 22nd. It’s been an astonishing run and they very much are excused for an off day, in tricky circumstances. No big time Charly attitudes in this squad, they’re an honest bunch who have given us a HotRide all season.
Despite Brennan saying he wouldn’t throw anyone under the bus in the post-match interview, Joe Grimwood did find himself Under the Wheels. Broadly, however, it was refreshing to see no over the top response from anyone.
We remain eight points clear with five games left. Not a lot of perspective is required to see we can quickly move on from this one. The special moment of clinching the title won’t be next week, but it’s still very much on the horizon. Some seriously Funky Shit would need to happen from here, even by our standards, to let York truly back in. Imagine their fans who’d made a weekend of it in Blackpool for Fylde had an excitable early evening nonetheless.
For purely, totally selfish reasons I’m pleased next week isn’t going to be the day we do it. Myself and this establishment’s editor will be watching the DAZN coverage whilst stagging in Hamburg. Hoping we’ll be raising many a stein as the goals go in as we Stand Up and give Wealdstone their final Medicine before hopefully not having to encounter them again for some time. York likely to win next week too now Aldershot have the FA Trophy Final to focus on - but I have a feeling they’ll drop points at Gateshead, opening the door for Great Friday…
Looking forward to being back for the game against the Spitfire(s).
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