After a disappointing first season in the APL, Barnet were hoping for improvement in the following season, 1980-81. Barnet had to be more careful as well, as this season, three teams would be relegated from the Alliance Premier at the end of the season. It would also be the last season when there were 20 clubs in the APL as five clubs would be promoted to the Alliance Premier to make up a league of 22 clubs starting in the season 1981-82.
Keeper, Kevin Blackwell had moved to Boston United, centre-backs, Steve Oliver and Chris Hullett had joined Enfield and Kempston Rovers respectively. Russell Townsend had joined from Northampton, while former Hillingdon Borough pair, defender, Graham Pearce and goalkeeper, Garry Steel arrived.
Barnet began the season with a 1-0 win over AP Leamington, Elwyn Roberts scoring the goal and Roberts was on target a again at Kettering Town the following Saturday, but the Bees went down 2-1 to two penalties. The next three matches were drawn before Barnet gained a fine 3-2 home win over champions, Altrincham, with Steve Brinkman (2) and Gary French scoring. Altrincham were among the favourites again to win the title that season.
Meanwhile, striker, Roy Clayton had arrived from Kettering Town, initially on a month's loan, in an effort to boost the Bees' goal tally. He scored his first league goal for the club at home to Scarborough, but Barnet lost 2-1. A 2-0 win at Gravesend, with goals from Elwyn Roberts and Steve Turner lifted the Bees but in the next away match they were thumped 4-1 by Northwich. After 10 matches, Barnet were a respectable 8th with 10 points from 10 games. A 2-0 win over Frickley at home, with goals from Brinkman and Clayton raised the Bees' confidence, but heavy away defeats at Bangor City and Worcester sent Barnet slipping down the league and, despite an Elwyn Roberts goal giving Barnet a 1-0 win at Nuneaton, by Christmas, Barnet had slipped to 14th in the table, though they did have games in hand on most of the teams below them and just above them. Indeed only one point separated Barnet and Barrow who were in 8th place. Striker, Gary Sargent arrived from Northampton.
This was partly due to Barnet being involved in a lot of cup matches. In the APL Cup, they beat AP Leamington 7-2 over 2 legs in a 2nd round tie, winning the second leg 6-0 at Underhill. In the 3rd round, they drew 1-1 at Kettering Town. In the FA Cup, they beat Aylesbury United in a twice replayed tie in the 4th qualifying round, a Gary Hughes goal sending them through to the 1st round proper where they beat Minehead 2-1in a replay, Elwyn Roberts scoring both Bees' goals, after drawing the initial match 2-2 at home.
Barnet's FA Cup run came to an end at home to Peterborough where they lost 1-0 at Underhill in the 2nd round. In the FA Trophy, Barnet went out in a shock home defeat to Harlow Town in the 3rd qualifying round. Barnet won through to the final of the Herts Senior Cup, but failed to retain the cup, losing 5-0 to Watford.
In the league, over Christmas, Barnet started well with a 3-0 win over Wealdstone, at Underhill, on Boxing Day, Steve Turner scoring twice and Gary Sargent scoring his first goal for the club. However the next three games over Christmas and the New Year were all away and Barnet lost them all.
There were a number of player moves around this time, Tony O'Hare joined Hillingdon Borough, Noel Blackwell signed for Tring Town and Colin Hardman moved to Wealdstone. Gary French and Steve Turner left the club too due to outside issues. Defender, Jimmy Hendrick arrived from Hendon and striker, Colin Barnes signed having played in Australia. Barnet also signed goalkeeper, Gary Phillips, from WBA, who was to prove such a legend for the club in the future.
Worse was to follow on returning to Underhill as successive defeats to Worcester City and Bath City, a heavy 5-1 defeat, left the Bees struggling near the bottom following 5 defeats on the trot. Barnet's form then picked up with an unexpected 2-1 away win at Yeovil Town with goals from Steve Brinkman and Colin Barnes. The Bees followed this up with a 4-1 win at home to fellow strugglers Maidstone United, new boy Gary Sargent scoring twice and Graham Pearce and Steve Foody one apiece.
Unfortunately it didn't last; a 1-0 defeat at Bath City heralded a poor run which saw Barnet take just 4 points from their next 7 league matches. By the time the Bees played Barrow at home on April the 4th, they were just 3 points above the rop zone, following a much needed win over relegation candidates, AP Leamington away from home the previous Saturday. A goalless draw was followed by two heavy away defeats at Maidstone and Scarborough and only the equally poor form of the other teams around the relegation zone kept them out of the bottom three. Barnet were level on points with Yeovil and AP Leamington and all three teams were 3 points clear of Nuneaton who were 3rd from bottom. Wealdstone and Bangor City were the bottom two. Barnet had their fate in their on hands but their form was poor.
Two Steve Robinson goals gave Barnet a 2-1 home win against Telford United, but two away defeats in 7 days at Boston United and Champions elect, Altrincham meant that when they met Northwich Victoria at home on 2nd May, Barnet were just one point above the drop zone and level on points with AP Leamington who had a superior goal difference. A 1-0 win over the Vics brought relief to the Bees and though they lost their last game at home to bottom club, Bangor City, Barnet finished two points above the other two sides who were relegated, Nuneaton Borough and Wealdstone to finish 17th.
It was another disappointing season and again one of the problems was that the Bees just did not score enough goals. They scored just 39 goals and only the bottom two, Wealdstone and Bangor City scored less. Unfortunately, they also let in too many goals. One thing was sure the club needed to find a player who could get the goals.
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
PTS |
POS |
|
|
Altrincham |
38 |
23 |
8 |
7 |
72 |
41 |
54 |
1 |
|
Kettering |
38 |
21 |
9 |
8 |
66 |
37 |
51 |
2 |
|
Scarborough |
38 |
17 |
13 |
8 |
49 |
29 |
47 |
3 |
|
Northwich |
38 |
17 |
11 |
10 |
53 |
40 |
45 |
4 |
|
Weymouth |
38 |
19 |
6 |
13 |
54 |
40 |
44 |
5 |
|
Bath City |
38 |
16 |
10 |
12 |
51 |
32 |
42 |
6 |
|
Maidstone |
38 |
16 |
9 |
13 |
64 |
53 |
41 |
7 |
|
Boston |
38 |
16 |
9 |
13 |
63 |
58 |
41 |
8 |
|
Barrow |
38 |
15 |
8 |
15 |
50 |
49 |
38 |
9 |
|
Frickley |
38 |
15 |
8 |
15 |
61 |
62 |
38 |
10 |
|
Stafford |
38 |
11 |
15 |
12 |
56 |
56 |
37 |
11 |
|
Worcester |
38 |
14 |
7 |
17 |
47 |
54 |
35 |
12 |
|
Telford |
38 |
13 |
9 |
16 |
47 |
59 |
35 |
13 |
|
Yeovil |
38 |
14 |
6 |
18 |
60 |
64 |
34 |
14 |
|
Gravesend |
38 |
13 |
8 |
17 |
48 |
55 |
34 |
15 |
|
Leamington |
38 |
10 |
11 |
17 |
47 |
66 |
31 |
16 |
|
Barnet |
38 |
12 |
7 |
19 |
39 |
64 |
31 |
17 |
|
Nuneaton |
38 |
10 |
9 |
19 |
49 |
65 |
29 |
18 |
|
Wealdstone |
38 |
9 |
11 |
18 |
37 |
56 |
29 |
19 |
|
Bangor City |
38 |
6 |
12 |
20 |
35 |
68 |
24 |
20 |