Barnet in the Herts Senior Cup Part Two

Last updated : 24 November 2014 By Jaybee

After winning the Herts Senior Cup three times in successive years between 1948 and 1950, Barnet went out at the semi final stage in 1951, losing 4-0 at St AlbansCity, in a replayed tie, having drawn the original tie, 4-4.  Earlier in the competition, the Bees had defeated HoddesdonTown 5-1.

The following season, Hoddesdon defeated Barnet at the semi final stage, 3-2 after the Bees had reached this stage by hammering RickmansworthTown, 10-2!! In 1953, Barnet played Hoddesdon in the earlier rounds again, this time winning 8-0 but for the third season running losing in the semi finals, 3-2 in a replayed tie, to St Albans.

In 1954, Barnet reached the final, but lost 1-0 to Ware, having beaten BerkhemsteadTown 3-1 in the semi-final after a replay. In 1955, Barnet failed to even make the semi-final, losing 5-3 at Bishops Stortford in the 4th round and in 1956 they went out at the same stage to Hemel Hempstead. In 1957, Barnet defeated Hertford (4-2) and Hemel Hempstead (4-0) on the way to the semi-final but then lost 2-1 to HitchinTown.

In 1958, Barnet won the Herts Senior Cup for the first time in eight years. They beat St Albans City 2-1 in the final with goals from Barnett and Dennis D'Arcy after beating Hemel Hempstead (7-0) and HitchinTown (3-1) on the way to the final. The following year, the Bees reached the final again, having disposed of HertfordTown (1-0) and St Albans (6-0) on the way but fell at the last hurdle, losing 2-0 to Bishops Stortford.

In 1960, Bishops Stortford thwarted Barnet again in the final, this time winning 1-0. Barnet defeated HitchinTown (4-1) and Hoddesdon (3-0) in the earlier rounds. In 1961, Barnet lifted the trophy once more, beating LetchworthTown 3-0 in the final with Reg Finch and Dennis D'Arcy scoring and the other goal was an own goal. Barnet defeated HitchinTown 4-3 in the semi final. Surprisingly, in 1962 the Bees went out at the first time of asking to HertfordTown, 4-2 with the Bees goals scored by Reg Finch and Denis D’Arcy.

In 1963, the final was played over two legs and the two teams playing in that year’s final were Barnet and HertfordTown. The Bees won the two legged affair 3-2 on aggregate having knocked out StevenageTown (5-0) and St Albans City (4-1) on the way to the final. Pope scored Barnet's goal in a 1-1 draw at Hertford and Roger Figg scored both goals as Barnet won 2-1 at home. The following year, Hertford own gained their revenge by beating Barnet 1-0 in the semi final after the Bees had reached this stage by beating HitchinTown 3-1.

During the following season, 1964/65, the club decided to leave the Athenian League and become a semi professional club, joining the Southern League. Barnet won their last ever Athenian League title and also won the Herts Senior Cup beating St AlbansCity 5-2 over two legs.

Roger Figg scored twice in a 2-2 draw at Clarence Park before the Bees clinched the trophy by winning 3-0 at Underhill with goals from Figg, Tony Harding & Reg Finch.

On turning professional, Barnet became, at the time, ineligible for the Herts Senior Cup and the 1965 success was the last time the club participated for the tournament for another 10 years.