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Win
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One win. Finally.
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By:
Eric Hitchmo
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21/10/2012
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"Far be it from us to provide negativity at all times, there is reason, finally, to cheer. It has taken until October 19 to win a competitive game of football, the longest we have ever had to wait, and we did it in some style.
Now then, it will be very easy to get carried away and describe this as the beginning of a huge turnaround. It may well be, however let's just hold our horses. After all, it was just one game and with the quality of the opposition on the night considered, we probably won't get an easier opportunity to win a game of football all season. Northampton were astonishingly bad. Not quite at the depths that Barnet have demonstrated this campaign, but they were abject.
Now will be a test of the players' confidence. We have been told on many occasions that once we get this first win, we will really be able to push on. It remains to be seen whether they have that ability to do so, but let's not piss on the bonfire before they get the chance. Consistency has been an issue with the team as they have flitted between 'promising' and 'very bad' this year, but let's just see if this breeds the confidence that we have been told it will.
It would of course be quite simple to pin the entire change on the introduction of world footballing great Edgar Davids to the starting XI. I mean, it's a completely absurd concept that he is at Underhill, leading the footballing media into a frenzied, cliche-filled orgy around the place. If it gets us a bit of attention, then great, however it does still highlight that we're bottom of the league and looking a tad desperate. Whilst it was clear than at 39 years of age, Davids had not retained the ability that saw him playing at the highest end of the game, you could tell that some of his touches on the ball and passing were of a class that you just don't see at this level. We were being a tad spoilt. Indeed, I did notice a rather sizeable Dutch contingent had made their way over to see him play. The crowd was again above average, as this coup continues to put bums on seats.
The first half was a laboured effort from all concerned. Chances were at a premium as both sides struggled to find any cohesion in dismal conditions. It was quite literally, a damp squib. The best opportunity fell to the visitors as a looping ball made its way to Alex Nicholls at the back post, but his header was impressively saved by the advancing Graham Stack. Davids took his time to get into the game, and the referee appeared very keen to get himself a celebrity booking by cautioning him as early as possible for a fairly innocuous challenge. Indeed, later in the game, a late challenge could quite easily have gained him a second, however it appeared this official didn't have the audacity to send him from the field!
The second half however was a different story. Whilst not looking like world-beaters, there was clearly a vast improvement in our performance all over the field. Northampton on the other hand, simply faded lamely into the night which was some achievement considering their garish ""steward's jacket green"" coloured kit. Davids began to pull the strings whilst barking the on-field orders and chances began to flow freely. The most rare of phenomena was spotted in order to open the scoring, as Barnet scored from a corner. Krystian Pearce rose highest at the near post to nod home and Barnet had the lead. The atmosphere rose around the ground, which in fairness had been pretty decent anyway. The East Terrace had found its voice and seemed busier than normal. Whether it was the Davids factor or not I don't know, but it was almost a noisy place again. Almost.
Confidence was beginning to show its face again, and when Andy Yiadom's deflected effort found its way into the back of the South Stand net, the place began to find its voice once more. Surely now, the winless monkey was to be well and truly dispatched from our back. It was notable and good to see Yiadom run to celebrate with Mark Robson after his goal, followed by many of the team. Perhaps this demonstrates that despite scepticism around the squad's insistence that they are behind Robson, there is in fact some real truth in those statements. Excellent.
The second goal punctured the feeble Northampton balloon and the scant hopes that they would provide a contest were long gone. The remaining time was to be a procession, laced with chances and openings for Barnet to make it emphatic.
It wasn't until the dying embers of the game that it was done. John Oster smashed home a low drive from 25 yards which underlined an excellent performance from him. A midfield containing Oster and Davids is not the sort of thing you'd usually stumble upon at your average fourth division ground, and in truth they had complete control of the middle of the park in the second half. We weren't even finished. Anthony Edgar was allowed to waltz into the box and shoot home from close range to put a slight silly yet ever so satisfying gloss onto proceedings. 4-0. Northampton well and truly humbled, Barnet enjoying the huge tidal wave of first-win relief that swept over Underhill on the sounding of the referee's final whistle.
As I said at the beginning, there is an awful long way to go and one game will not be the complete turning point. However, it's difficult to justify pouring any more scorn on the club at this very moment in time. Give it a few weeks and a few defeats and we may revert to that type, but come on, let's go a little easy for now.
It's struggling Wycombe on Tuesday but first, we have the little matter of the FA Cup First Round draw this afternoon. No matter how bad things seem in a league season, the FA Cup draw is always a point of excitement. I want a completely obscure trip to a Non-Leaguer, even though you'd have us down as favourite for an upset. Something like that ridiculous trip to Gainsborough in 2006 would do nicely."
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