I don’t remember the last time I watched the first three Barnet games in a row at the beginning of a season, probably been a fair while to be honest. Not because I don’t want to or I follow loosely, it wouldn’t make for good reading all the time on here, hence why there is a separate blog for extra ramblings.
But when the away games fall nicely and the journey is only just over an hour for me it was off to Eastleigh on Tuesday evening. Contrasting starts for both sides, two wins for the Bees, two draws for the Spitfires, for sides who are expected to be in the end of season mix.
For a change a nice summer evening greeted all around the ground, Barnet straight into their stride buoyed no doubt by their TV victory at the weekend, moving the ball around nicely and the home side having an early struggle to get any possession.
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It wasn’t a surprise when the visitors took the lead on 15 minutes, Idris Kanu on the end of a Dale Gorman corner at the back post for the winger’s first goal of the season.
Just four minutes later the lead was doubled, Danny Collinge with a free header from another Gorman corner and the defender’s third goal of the season had Barnet in complete command, the Spitfires really struggling to deal with any of the set pieces into their penalty area.
It got even better for the Bees on the half hour mark, Kanu drifted inside from the left hand side and Joe McDonnell let the winger’s shot slip through his hands despite his best efforts to keep it out, Nicke Kabamba making sure the ball was turned home, but a brace for the flying winger and a shell-shocked home support.
However, a chink of light arrived two minutes before half time, former Bee Paul McCallum escaping the attention of the Barnet rearguard and shooting across Laurie Walker for a way back into the match, a fine finish. Barnet should have gone in 4-1 up, Kabamba’s close range header tipped over by McDonnell, but had to settle for a 3-1 lead.
As expected Eastleigh came at Barnet as the second half began, but the Bees weathered the storm well. Just as they did, the home side put themselves back in contention on 64 minutes, Scott Quigley breaking clear and slotting past Walker to reduce the deficit further.
Barnet again weathered the storm after, Kabamba with another good chance that McDonnell was equal too, another goal would have surely put the game to bed.
However, Barnet were struggling with the loss of Collinge and whilst they looked dangerous themselves on the break, Eastleigh were putting the pressure on and deep into stoppage time they secured an unlikely point through McCallum’s free header, a point 60 minutes before was a million miles away.
Prior to the equaliser there were a couple of moments in the Eastleigh box where Ben Wynter looked to have been manhandled to the floor twice, the referee unmoved but it looked as if he had both calls wrong.
A disappointing end and definitely two points dropped from the early position, however seven points from the first nine is a good early haul, sitting second in the table.
I remarked on trevorknell.substack.com that Kanu hadn’t yet come to the party, well he certainly brought his contribution on Tuesday night although the equaliser did come from a lapse in his defensive duties.
The substitutions didn’t have the desired effect for the visitors either, chances have to be taken when you get them, there are players ready to take your place if you don’t perform, that’s the depth of the squad this year.
Having now drawn all three matches so far, the pressure is possibly on Lee Bradbury a little at least, not the start his board would have been expecting given the expenditure over the summer, it might only be three games in but I doubt the patience levels are thick.
Great to see so many familiar faces at this one, and nice company from John Erroll for the 90 minutes, the lack of being allowed on the terrace meant you couldn’t actually be close to everyone you wanted to be, hemmed into one block, that’s for another blog however!
Back to a bit more local over the next couple of weeks, nice to see how everyone else has started and beginning to tick along, enjoy the summer football evenings while you can.
