A look back at season 2008/09

Barnet opened February in 21^st place in the table, just a point above Grimsby Town and nine points above the relegation zone. With just 1 win in 17 league matches, it was important that the Bees started to pick up more than odd point here and there if they were to avoid being relegated to the Blue Square Premier.

Caretaker manager, Ian Hendon had not yet tasted victory since taking over at the turn of the year and the Bees had taken just three points from 5 matches since Hendo took over. The first match of the month was a crucial relegation battle at home to Grimsby Town. Hendon introduced two new players for this match. Matthew Lockwood, an experienced left back joined on loan from Colchester and central midfield player, Mark Hughes joined until the end of the season from Chester.

It was vital that Barnet take points from the teams around them and this game seemed a perfect opportunity for the Bees to get back to winning ways. Barnet made a terrific start going 2-0 up with a first Barnet goal for Yannick Bolasie and another from Paul Furlong. However, Barnet let Grimsby back in the game and by half time it was 2-2. John O'Flynn put Barnet back in the lead in the second half but the Bees could not hang on to the lead and the game ended 3-3. There was no doubt that under Hendon the team looked much better but the results were not coming and on the Saturday, Barnet gave a poor performance away to Notts County and lost 2-0. Barnet were now 22^nd, only 5 points ahead of Bournemouth and the relegation zone.

The following Saturday, Barnet were at home to play-off chasing, Bradford City in what looked a tough match, particularly as Barnet had now just one win in 19 games and had gone 7 matches without a win. However, their performance that day was one of the highlights of the season as the Bees blew the Bantams away with a terrific performance, winning 4-1 with goals from Albert Adomah, John O'Flynn, Yannick Bolasie and Joe Devera. The win saw Barnet jump above Chester and Grimsby into 20^th place and put them 8 points above Bournemouth. It also gave Ian Hendon his first win as manager.

The following Saturday, the Bees gained a very valuable away point at Chesterfield with Ismail Yakubu scoring the goal. Barnet finished the month in 20^th position, 6 points above the bottom two. They had won one and drawn two out of four matches. Not astonishing form, but it was an improvement and the team was beginning to play like a team that was capable of winning matches.