retired_edmari

Monday August 27, 2001
Third Division, Game 4
Barnet vs Rochdale
Underhill, London

A bank holiday home match finished August in spectacular style. I took my seat nervously, hoping to finish the month on a high and pick up three points to get back into some sort of form. I didn't foresee us doing so in quite such emphatic style, though.

Dan Arnefjord put us ahead early on with a tap-in from Huckerby's corner, and the lead doubled within 10 minutes when Sanne found the corner of the net after Duff's superb pass. Rochdale hadn't yet formed an attack, and the match was all but won within five more minutes when Chris Blidberg made it 3-0.

Rochdale would in total muster only 3 attempts on Marriott's goal in the full 90 minutes, none of which troubled the keeper. A second for Blidberg finished them off, and rounded off August in a more than adequate style.

Barnet: Marriott 7, Duff 8, Jellyman 7, Arnefjord 8, Isaksson 8, Pitcher 8, Larsson 8, Sanne 8, Andreasson 8, BLIDBERG (MOM) 9, Huckerby 7
Rochdale: Edwards 6, Todd 7, Brunton 7, Hill 7, Monington 7, Jones 6, Flitcroft 6, Stevens 7, Irvine 6, Rideout 6 (Townson on 55, 6), Broom 6

Final Score: Barnet 4 (Arnefjord 10, Sanne 19, Blidberg 23, 67) Rochdale 0
Attendance: 3,623

retired_edmari

Saturday September 1, 2001
Third Division, Game 5
Barnet vs AFC Bournemouth
Underhill, London

This was almost like picking up where we left off on Monday. But this one kept me and most of the home fans on the edge of our seats until rather late in the day. Adam Oliver, the impressive young midfielder on loan at Bournemouth from West Brom, started proceedings with his well-timed strike 20 minutes in, but after that it became the Henrik Andreasson show for a spell.

The young Swede, looking to recapture the form he had before his injury, equalised within 4 minutes. Then a quickfire double ten minutes after that secured him a hat-trick and gave us a commanding lead at the break.

Oliver pulled one back shortly into the second half, to ignite the nerves a little, before veteran Simon Barker, making his 555th career appearance, equalised soon after. It stayed that way for a good half hour, and the visiting side thought they had safely nabbed a point. In fact I'm sure I saw a handful of fans happily edging out to avoid the M25 traffic. Sadly, Chris Blidberg stepped forward near the end to secure a hard fought victory. And an ever-so-slightly-lucky one.

Barnet: Marriott 7, Duff 8, Victory 8, Arnefjord 7, Bayliss 5, Pitcher 7, Larsson 8, Sanne 7, ANDREASSON (MOM) 10, Blidberg 8, Huckerby 8
Bournemouth: Petterson 7, Asare 6 (Broadhurst on 90, 6), Bentley 6, Ellis 8, Howe 6 (Fletcher on 65, 7), Barker 8, O'Neill 7, Oliver 8, Turner 7, Watson 7, Little 8

Final Score: Barnet 4 (Andreasson 24, 33, 34, Blidberg 86) Bournemouth 3 (Oliver 20, 52, Barker 55)
Attendance: 2,952

retired_edmari

Tuesday September 4, 2001
League Cup First Round, Second Leg
Barnet vs Hartlepool United
Underhill, London

All we needed here were a couple of goals, and we were through. Having scored 8 in the last two, I was confident we could score here. I wasn't as confident that we'd avoid conceding the away goal(s) that we can't afford to give away here.

At half time, we were through. If I could've ended the match there and put us through to Round Two, Christ I would have. Sadly I couldn't, so we had to go into another 45 minutes of football clinging to a 2-0 lead on the night, and an away goals lead on the 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

We had been, and continued to be, the more attacking side and created more of the chances - as we pleasingly seem to be doing increasingly often at Underhill - but tonight we just couldn't find someone to convert them and put this tie beyond doubt. In the end, Paul Arnison's goal just after half time would prove enough to settle the clash, and the visitors would edge through on aggregate.

Barnet: Brajanac 7, Duff 6, Victory 7, Arnefjord 8, Bayliss 7, Pitcher 8, Larsson 7, Sanne 7, Andreasson 6, Blidberg 7, Huckerby 7
Hartlepool: Hollund 8, Foster 7, Dolby 8, Lee 8, Collins 7 (Knowles on 88, 6), Murray 6 (Venables on 62, 7), ARNISON (MOM) 9, Dyer 7, Lormor 7, Henderson 6, Shilton 8

Final Score: Barnet 2 (Sanne 23, Pitcher 37) Hartlepool 1 (Arnison 48) (4-5 On Aggregate)
Attendance: 2,959

There died the first route to silverware for the season. Hartlepool would face Blackpool in Round 2, losing on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate across the tie.

retired_edmari

Saturday September 8, 2001
Third Division, Game 6
Barnet vs Torquay United
Underhill, London

The biggest attendance so far this season (hardly impressive) turned out for the visit of Torquay, but if that attendance was caused by a surge of away fans, they'll be wishing they never bothered. This match was done, dusted and over at half time. I could've done a Sven and sent the reserves out for a kickaround in the second half, to be honest.

To be fair to the visitors, they pushed us harder than most other teams that travel here, keeping our attempts count under 15 for the first time in a few matches, and managing 9 of their own, which is three times that of some teams that have come here.

But still, a blinding team performance began with Bayliss making amends for being at fault defensively with set pieces a couple of times this season, by heading in Larsson's corner kick. Larsson himself popped up to double the advantage five minutes later, volleying home a cross from Duff. Blidberg then made his name for the day with a 25-yard screamer to burst the Torquay net, and make the score a simple looking 3-0 with just half an hour played.

Before half time there'd be another, as Blidberg was brought down in the box by Mark Tucker. Jamie Victory, filling in for the injured Jellyman, made no mistake in hammering home the penalty to make it four at the whistle.

One more would follow shortly after the break, from the prolific boot of Henrik Andreasson, but the 5th would be the last nail in the coffin for our visitors. Most of the stadium were by now pretty delirious, but I was still intact enough to watch the match slow towards a bit of a dull end. Never mind, eh?

Barnet: Brajanac 9, Duff 9, Victory 8, Arnefjord 8, Bayliss 8, Pitcher 8, Larsson 7, Sanne 7, Andreasson 8, BLIDBERG 9, Huckerby 8
Torquay: Gothard 6, Tully 6, Bimson 6, Doohan 7, Tucker 6, Hill 6, Ashington 6, Flynn 7, Williams 6, Sissoko 7 (Bedeau on 57, 7), Platts 6

Final Score: Barnet 5 (Bayliss 19, Larsson 24, Blidberg 30, Victory pen 45, Andreasson 49) Torquay 0
Attendance: 3,777

retired_edmari

Wednesday September 12, 2001
Third Division, Game 7
Leyton Orient vs Barnet
Brisbane Road, London

Matches against Orient are about as close as we'll get to a local derby this season, so it was naturally to be taken seriously. That was especially so when I scanned the league tables to see we could reach the Top 3 if we continued our winning run today.

The fans were up for it, but the match itself took a little longer to get going. Neither side really created much in the way of chances throughout the first half, and at half time it was 2 attempts on goal each. So far the telling factor was our better passing, which we used to put together some threatening moves later in the half.

The trend continued into the second, and was eventually rewarded within ten minutes of the interval when Henrik added another to his tally for the season, before Blidberg ensured he stayed on par with his teammate's abilities a few moments later.

Going by the run of play in the second half, we were more than deserving of the win, but Geoff Pitcher still found time to make sure with ten minutes left. Orient had a little wag in their tail late on, and few could argue they deserved a goal. In this case though, it was too little and too late for the O's.

Orient: Barker 5, Trees 6 (Christie on 87, 6), Lockwood 7, McElholm 8, Woolsey 6 (Dorrian on 91, 6), McGhee 8, Spencer 7, Cartwright 8, Brissett 7, Gough 9, Bakalli 7
Barnet: Brajanac 8, Duff 8, Victory 7, Arnefjord 7, Bayliss 7, PITCHER 9, Larsson 7, Sanne 7, Andreasson 8, Blidberg 7, Huckerby 7

Final Score: Orient 1 (Gough 84) Barnet 3 (Andreasson 54, Blidberg 56, Pitcher 80)
Attendance: 7,960

retired_edmari

Saturday September 15, 2001
Third Division, Game 8
Peterborough United vs Barnet
London Road, Peterborough

For the first time in a while, we'd finish a match well and truly beaten. I couldn't produce excuses or arguments though. Peterborough were the better side, and played better football.

Eventually nine goals would be shared, the first coming just 6 minutes in from the formerly-pineapple-headed Jason Lee. It took ten minutes more for the Posh to double the lead through Simon Rusk before we woke up. Fortunately Chris Blidberg chose this point to pull one back, but hopes of coming back would soon be scuppered as goals from Anders Koogi and Andy Clarke extended the lead. Sanne would restore some life just before the break to give us a little hope.

That little hope grew early in the second as Huckerby scored a super goal to pull it back to 4-3, but despite not quite being the Posh goal frenzy of the first, we still couldn't find any way to turn it around, and eventually Rusk and Koogi would add another each to finish off the demolition job. Having climbed to 3rd at the end of the recent winning run, this was a rather loud thud as we crashed back to earth.

Peterborough: Heald 6, Odlum 9, Wicks 8, Kenna 6 (Brewster on 54, 7), Foster 7, Koogi 10, Simpson 8, RUSK 10, Clarke 8 (Green on 66, 7), Lee 8, Farrell 8
Barnet: Brajanac 3, Duff 7, Victory 8, Arnefjord 8, Bayliss 6, Pitcher 7 (Jørgensen on 50, 6), Larsson 6, Sanne 7, Andreasson 6 (Fritzdorf on 62, 6), Blidberg 8, Huckerby 8

Final Score: Peterborough 6 (Lee 6, Rusk 16, 71, Koogi 31, 76, Clarke 43) Barnet 3 (Blidberg 25, Sanne 45, Huckerby 48)
Attendance: 3,121

retired_edmari

Saturday September 22, 2001
Third Division, Game 9
Barnet vs Lincoln City
Underhill, London

After what could only be described as a bit of a disaster at Peterborough a week ago, I was incredibly eager to get back into winning ways, starting now with the visit of Lincoln to Underhill. After dropping back out after Peterborough, I was also rather keen on getting back into that top 3.

Possession-wise this was a very even match, but otherwise we were the better side in all areas of the field - passing better around the middle and producing more chances at goal. As far as I was concerned it was bad enough to be going in goalless at half time.

It'd get worse though, and Lincoln sneaked a couple of goals past young Hamza midway through the second half. They proved to be enough, despite as trying desperately in vain to get back into the match and find a way past Alan Marriott.

Barnet: Brajanac 6, Duff 8, Jellyman 7, Arnefjord 6, Bayliss 6, Pitcher 7, Larsson 5 (Jørgensen on 48, 6), Sanne 8, Andreasson 7, Blidberg 8, Huckerby 7
Lincoln: MARRIOTT 9, Barnett 6, Hogg 6, Henry 8, Welsh 6, Holmes 7, Smith 7, Logan 8, Gordon 7, Thorpe 8, Gain 7 (Miller on 74, 6)

Final Score: Barnet 0 Lincoln 2 (Smith 61, Logan 66)
Attendance: 4,039

retired_edmari

Saturday September 29, 2001
Third Division, Game 10
Darlington vs Barnet
The Feethams Ground, Darlington

After a couple of weeks of disappointment, we'd end September by moving the count in the 'P' column into double figures. Of those 30 points we could have had, today took us to a total of 18 as we fought hard to win comfortably in a very tight match.

Fortunately we were sharp from the off, and Scott Huckerby ended the first meaningful attack by putting us ahead early on. Darlington were probably stronger for the rest of the half, but Brajanac played well to keep them at bay, and their failure to level the match cost dearly as we grew in confidence and stole two more before half time - both courtesy of Fritzdorf, standing in for the injured Blidberg.

The second half was mostly uneventful, although the hosts would get a deserved consolation. It took a penalty though, after Brajanac brought down Mark Angel. Hamza saw the red card, and Marriott's first action would be to pick Angel's penalty out of the back of our net. The Welshman kept out further attempts though, and we clung on to three more lovely points.

Darlington: Williams 5, Butler 7, Kaak 6, Reed 6, White 6, Gray 8, Bassett 5 (Angel on 53, 7), Atkinson 7, Dent 5 (Beavers on 53, 7), Nogan 7, Young 7
Barnet: Brajanac 6, Duff 7, Jellyman 7, Arnefjord 7, Bayliss 7, Pitcher 7 (Marriott on 65, 7), Larsson 7, Sanne 8, ANDREASSON 10, Fritzdorf 8, Huckerby 8

Final Score: Darlington 1 (Angel pen 65) Barnet 3 (Huckerby 5, Fritzdorf 37, 43)
Attendance: 3,764

retired_edmari

Saturday October 6, 2001
Third Division, Game 11
Barnet vs Exeter City
Underhill, London

Despite the dominance - by quite a way - from the visitors, this match was almost over before it started. Even better, it was in my favour. Henrik Andreasson hit his second quickfire hat-trick of the season to put us 3-0 ahead within 10 minutes of kick off, and it looked as though the gates were open for a complete demolition of them.

Sadly, that wouldn't quite happen, and ultimately Henrik's hat-trick would just about be enough to see us through. Exeter had had most of the play since those first 10 minutes where we took the game away, but couldn't beat Brajanac until an hour had passed. Graeme Tomlinson pulled one back, and Geoff Breslan scored a second to ensure a nervous end for those in orange and black, but we just about held on to throw another three points into the collection.

Barnet: Brajanac 7, Duff 7, Victory 7, Arnefjord 7, Bayliss 6, Pitcher 7, Larsson 6, Sanne 7, Andreasson 8, Fritzdorf 7, HUCKERBY 9
Exeter: James 5, Petty 7, Campbell 7, Redmond 7, Basham 8, Breslan 8, Poppleton 9, Holloway 8, Tomlinson 8, Inglethorpe 7, Wilkinson 6

Final Score: Barnet 3 (Andreasson 4, 6, 9) Exeter 2 (Tomlinson 61, Breslan 70)
Attendance: 3,921

retired_edmari

Saturday October 13, 2001
Third Division, Game 12
Scunthorpe United vs Barnet
Glanford Park, Scunthorpe

Like Exeter this was another slightly bizarre match in terms of the fairness of the scoreline, but again I wouldn't have any form of complaints on the matter. In all areas of play the game was evenly match, but we rolled out emphatic winners to claim three more points.

Andreasson was lost to injury in the 3rd minute, which was even quicker than one of his hat-tricks. But no sooner had he disappeared towards the physio's room, did Pitcher put us ahead with a stunning long range effort. Geoff then took his attempt at emulating Henrik by adding another five minutes later, and once more we were looking like wrapping up the win before the fans had finished their pre-match pint.

Hopefully they were present by the time Huckerby added another to make it 3-0, still only halfway through the first half. 3-0 was pleasant enough a scoreline to take into the break, but nothing was safe yet. This became more apparent when Mike Pearce headed in to pull one back for the hosts, but there'd be no scares or nail biting as Huckerby hit his second to finish the scoring on the hour mark. It was a bit flattering, but a win's a win, and 3 more onto the goal difference is better than a kick in the knackers.

Scunthorpe: Thompson 4, Whitehead 6, Boyle 7, Hague 7, Fickling 8, Pepper 7, Stokoe 6 (Larusson on 90, 6), Ipoua 8, Pearce 8, Kartes 5, Jackson 9
Barnet: Marriott 8, Duff 7, Victory 7, Arnefjord 7, Bayliss 7, Pitcher 10, Larsson 8, Sanne 9, Andreasson 6 (Durie on 3, 6), Fritzdorf 8, Huckerby 9

Final Score: Scunthorpe 1 (Pearce 51) Barnet 4 (Pitcher 3, 8, Huckerby 24, 60)
Attendance: 2,231