A look back at the 2007-08 season

Barnet started the new season with a new look squad, following the departure during the summer of players like Simon King, Nicky Bailey and Dean Sinclair for respectable sums of money and the release of Ross Flitney, Adam Gross, Richard Graham, Andy Hessenthaler, Paul Warhurst, Magno Vieira, Barry Cogan and Oliver Allen.

In their place there arrived goalkeeper, Rob Beckwith from Luton Town, experienced former Peterborough centre back, Sagi Burton from Shrewsbury, midfield players, Neal Bishop from York City, Michael Leary from Luton Town, Max Porter from Bishops Stortford, Ashley Carew from Fisher Athletic and Stephane Seanla from Kettering Town, plus striker Anthony Thomas from Hemel Hempstead. Former PROTEC youngster James Cole was also added to the squad.

The Bees opened the season at newly promoted Morecambe at Christie Park. It was the Lancashire club's first ever league match and the game ended in a 0-0 draw with Barnet unlucky to not get all three points, thwarted by Morecambe's on loan keeper, Joe Lewis. Anthony Thomas was particularly unlucky not to make it a scoring debut for the Bees, only a great save by Lewis stopping him grabbing a late winner. The Bees' line up was, Harrison; Devera, Burton, Yakubu, Nicolau; Carew, Leary, Bishop, Puncheon; Birchall, Thomas.

The following Tuesday, saw Barnet travel to Norwich City to play the Championship side in the opening round of the Carling Cup. Ian Hendon made his first appearance of the season at right at right back, with Joe Devera moving to centre back in place of the injured, Ismail Yakubu. Having had some fine performances in the competition in the previous two seasons, hopes were high, but Norwich ran out easy winners as the Bees lost 5-2, Puncheon and Birchall getting the goals for Barnet. To make matters worse, Neal Bishop was given a straight red and was to miss the next three matches.

Things didn't improve as the next two matches saw two more defeats and two more players sent off. Firstly, Barnet's first home league game of the season ended with a 2-1 defeat to Hereford United. The Bees, with Max Porter replacing the suspended Bishop, had started well with Jason Puncheon putting them ahead early on, but the game turned on the controversial sending off of Joe Devera in the first half for an alleged professional foul. Until then Barnet had looked good for their 1-0 lead, but playing with just 10 men proved too much for the Bees.

The following Saturday, another sending off cost Barnet again. This time it was new boy, Stevland Angus recruited from Torquay United, who was sent off in the derby match at Brentford. Angus, who had a spell on loan at Underhill in 2006 without ever playing a first team game, was deputising for the suspended Devera. Stephane Seanla also made his first start in place of the injured Ashley Carew and new signings, Danny Hart from Borehamwood and Joe O'Ceaurill from Arsenal were on the bench. However, Jason Puncheon's spectacular goal was not enough as the West London Bees won 2-1. To add to Paul Fairclough's woes, Michael Leary was now out with a long term injury. The game proved to be Angus' first and last game for Barnet as he was released soon after.

At the end of August, Barnet were 21^st with just 1 point from 3 games. However, September started off in much better style as Barnet won their first game of the season, defeating Bradford City 2-1 at Underhill. The match saw two more new faces in the Barnet line up. Left back, Kenny Gillet finally signed from Caen after some uncertainty about if he would join the Bees and England under 18 international, Josh Wright arrived on loan from Charlton to bolster the midfield. Yakubu and Carew returned to the side, Porter continuing in midfield in the absence of Bishop, with Wright as his partner. An own goal put the bees ahead at half time and following City's equaliser, a stunning late fee kick from Jason Puncheon gave the Bees the three points. It was to be voted goal of the season. The win took Barnet up to 15^th.

The following Saturday saw the Bees drew 1-1 at newly promoted Dagenham & Redbridge. Neal Bishop returned to the side as a spectacular Anthony Thomas shot which burst the net gained the Bees a point after former Underhill favourite, Ben Strevens had put the Daggers ahead following a horrific defensive mix up.

A dull goalless draw at home to Rochdale was followed by Barnet's first away win of the season. Jason Norville resigned by Barnet on a match to match basis and brought into the side in place of Thomas, headed home the only goal of the match at Chesterfield. The month ended with another win, this time at home to highly fancied, Rotherham United. A fine second half performance by the Bees saw them gain a deserved 2-0 win with goals from Jason Puncheon and Adam Birchall. September ended with Barnet in 9^th place and unbeaten in 5 games in which 11 points were picked up. Jason Puncheon was top scorer with 5 goals as hopes were high as October approached.

The League Two table showed MK Dons, Darlington and Herford in the three automatic promotion places, while the two bottom teams were Lincoln City and Mansfield Town.