A look back at season 2008/09

After a top half finish the previous season, manager Paul Fairclough was talking about Barnet making the play-offs during the summer, but many Barnet fans were concerned about the lack of transfer activity during the close season. Barnet had lost the services of highly talented winger, Jason Puncheon who had moved to Plymouth Argyle in the summer for £250,000 and he did not appear to have been replaced. Indeed, the Barnet squad seemed to be severely lacking in terms of left sided players with utility player, Nicky Nicolau having left the club having refused the offer of a new contract.

Barnet had also let go of midfield player, Stephen Seanla, striker, Anthony Thomas and experienced central defender, Sagi Burton which surprised many fans. Young Player of the year, Josh Wright had returned to Charlton following the end of his loan period.

Fairclough had brought in left sided midfield player, Nicky Deverdics, who had impressed during pre-season, from Gretna, striker, Luke Medley from Bradford City and French central defender, Jeremy de Magalhaes. Young PROTEC players, Joe Tabiri and Elliott Charles were promoted to the first team, squad. All-in-all the squad looked a little thin to be aiming at the play-offs.

The opening game of the new season was at Underhill against Chesterfield, a team felt by many to be one of the favourites for promotion, or at least the play-offs. Deverdics was not fully fit and was on the bench and Ashley Carew was given the right back spot having impressed in that position at the end of 2007/08 when he played there in an emergency. Keiron St Amie was given the left side of midfield berth. The team had a kind of lop sided look to it but Barnet went ahead when a free kick taken by Ashley Carew in his own half sailed past Tommy Lee, the Chesterfield keeper into the net. The goal was destined to be voted goal of the year by Barnet supporters. It was also to be Carew's only goal of the season for the Bees.

Barnet held onto the lead until half time, but never looked really in command and three goals in the second half for the visitors saw them run out comfortable, and deserving, winners by 3-1.

A dreadful performance at Brighton in the Carling Cup 1^st round followed with Barnet going down 4-0 and Kenny Gillet being sent off. Luke Medley made his first start for the club. Not surprisingly with no real left sided player in the side, Barnet went down 3-1 at Rochdale, Adam Birchall putting the Bees ahead early on but then succumbing to heavy Rochdale pressure.

Young left back, Aswad Thomas was brought in on loan from Charlton and made his debut for the home game with Brentford. Barnet gave a much improved performance in the second half, but went down 1-0, Albert Adomah missing a penalty.

Things went from bad to worse the following Saturday at Chester. The home side had, like Barnet, failed to gain a point but savaged the Bees 5-1, Cliff Akurang scoring his first goal of the season. Jeremy de Magalhaes made his debut and Danny Hart made his first appearance of the season for the first team. Paul Mitchell, an experienced midfield player was brought in on loan from MK Dons. The idea of Barnet making the play-offs already looked a joke even at so early a stage of the season. By the end of August, Barnet had lost all four league matches and were out of the Carling Cup. Within the first two days of September, Barnet were out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy as well.

Fairclough signed Israeli goalkeeper, Ran Kadoch who had played in pre-season matches and he made his debut in the JPT match at Dagenham & Redbridge. Barnet went down again, this time by 4-2 to an under strength Daggers. Adam Birchall scored both Barnet goals. He was Barnet's leading scorer.

On the Saturday, Barnet gave another limp performance losing 2-0 away at Lincoln City and were now 21^st in the table and were the only League Two side not to have gained any points. Only the three clubs who had been given points deductions were below them. Finally, at home to Morecambe, Barnet grabbed a point. It was a match that they could have, and should have, won, but at least they now had a point. Albert Adomah got the goal and Barnet now had 1 point from 6 matches. This match saw the return of Nicky Nicolau who had been offered a contract by Paul Fairclough having failed to find a new club in the summer.

The following Saturday, Barnet lost again, this time to Bury at home in a match where they had the chances to win the game. Barnet went ahead through Albert Adomah but once again let the lead slip and gave away two soft second half goals and with them the three pints to Bury. This match saw the first appearance of Barnet's new striker, John O'Flynn who had been signed from Irish club, Cork City. He came with a good reputation as a goalscorer but also was, apparently, somewhat injury prone. Barnet fans hoped he wouldn't be another Jason Norville or, indeed a de Magalhaes. The French defender had only played one match so far amid a series of injuries. Barnet now had just one point from seven matches and but for the teams with points deductions would be bottom.

The last match of September saw the Bees travel to Grimsby Town, a side that Barnet had not got so much as a point from in six meetings in the last three seasons. The Mariners had made a poor start to the season though. They had lost five matches and drawn twice and were just a point above Barnet. A win at Blundell Park would take the Bees above them. That was easier said than done though for a side with just one point from seven games.

As it turned out though, that is exactly what happened. Barnet beat Grimsby for the first time and grabbed their first win of the season thanks o a Neal Bishop goal, the only goal of the match. John O'Flynn made his first start and at least Barnet now had a win under their belts. Four points had come from their last three matches. It may not have been a lot but it was better than no points from 5 matches. Hopefully, October would see more improvement and more points.