At the beginning of February things were looking bleak for the Bees. Without a win in the league since October and falling rapidly down the table, it looked as though top scorer, John O’Flynn was about to depart too. The former Cork City striker, had turned down the offer of a new contract at Barnet and the club had received a £100,000 offer from play-off chasing, Shrewsbury Town for the Irishman. However, O’Flynn turned down the Shrews’ offer as well as a subsequent offer to go on loan at Shrewsbury until the end of the season.
Former Chelsea and Southend midfield player, Lee Sawyer left the club after turning down a contract with the club. Sawyer wanted a short term deal at the club until the end of the season but the club were not interested in a short term arrangement and released him.
One new arrival at the club was former Millwall and Hull City midfield player, David Livermore, who had been released by Brighton and he made his debut for the Bees as a substitute in the home game with play-off chasers, Aldershot. Livermore made a quick impact, crossing for John O’Flynn to score his second goal of the game in a much needed 3-0 win which saw a very much improved performance from the home side. The win took Barnet up to 15th place in the league, 10 points above the drop zone.
Ironically, the Bees’ next trip was in midweek to Shrewsbury Town. Unfortunately, Barnet’s poor away form continued as the Bees crashed to their 10th consecutive away defeat in the league. A somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers, Cheltenham Town, Albert Adomah scoring, was followed by a very rare sighting indeed; a real away win!! John O’Flynn made it four goals in four matches since turning down a move to Shrewsbury with both goals in a 2-0 win at Port Vale. This meant that Barnet had won twice in the last four matches. Barnet were now beginning to look safe, 13 points above the relegation zone. Could the Bees’ recent improvement in form last?
Unfortunately, the answer was not quite. A midweek 3-0 defeat at promotion chasing Bournemouth saw Barnet’s away form revert to type. Two draws followed in the next two matches with Barnet actually performing fairly well in a goalless draw at Underhill with another promotion chasing side, Bury and a very creditable 2-2 draw at Crewe with goals from O’Flynn and a matt Lockwood. Barnet were still 11 points above the relegation zone.
The following Saturday should have seen the Bees looking much safer as they led Accrington Stanley 1-0 early on in the game at Underhill after John O’Flynn had scored from the penalty spot after the Accy’s keeper, Dunbavin, had been sent off for bringing down Albert Adomah in the penalty area. However, the Bees somehow contrived to lose the game 2-1 with a quite dreadful second half performance which was capped with Clovis Kamdjo being sent off.
However, March ended with the Bees looking on the up, a bit at least. Yet another away win, this time at bottom club, Darlington. John O’Flynn and David Livermore, his first for the club, got the Barnet goals. March ended with a very poor match against Burton at Underhill, the home side maybe a little fortunate with getting a 1-1 draw through a Mark Hughes goal. Barnet ended March 11 points above Grimsby Town who were in 23rd place and with a game in hand. The Mariners had only 8 matches left, surely the Bees were more or less safe now from relegation.