In the last of this series about Barnet in the FA Cup we look at the period from 2001 to the present. Following relegation from the Football League, Barnet were coming to terms with being a non-league side again.
In the first Conference season, Barnet had to play in the 4th Qualifying round, not being a league side anymore and they were drawn away at Havant & Waterlooville. Following an initial 1-1 away draw, a hat trick from Wayne Purser saw the Bees win the replay 3-0. Barnet, however, went out in the 1st round proper when, following a 0-0 draw at home to Carlisle United, they lost the replay 1-0.
The following season, the Bees didn't even make the 1st round, going down, surprisingly, 2-0 at home to lowly, Tiverton Town. In 2003-04, Barnet made the 2nd round proper of the cup. After seeing off Bracknell Town 3-0 away in the 4th Qualifying round with goals from Ian Hendon, Joe gamble and an own goal, they then beat Stalybridge Celtic following a replay. In the first match at Underhill, Barnet went 2-0 up with goals from Peter Beadle and Joe Gamble before allowing the Unibond League side to pull back to 2-2. In the replay, two Guiliano Grazioli goals were enough to see the Bees through 2-0, though Shane Gore had to save a penalty.
In the 2nd round, Barnet faced a trip to Yeovil Town, who were in the Football league for the first time after winning the Conference the previous season. After going a goal down, the Bees equalised through a fine Peter Beadle goal from an Ismail Yakubu cross, but were then blown away by the Somerset club, going down 5-1. The Barnet side that day was; Gore; Hendon, Plummer, Maddix, King; Strevens, Lopez, Gamble, Yakubu; Grazioli, Beadle.
The 2004-05 was to be an outstanding season for the Bees in the Conference, but sadly, not in the FA Cup. After a 2-1 home win over Farnborough Town in the 4th Qualifying Round with goals from Richard Graham and Ismail Yakubu, Barnet went out in the 1st Round Proper following a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of Southern League, Bath City. Liam Hatch scored the only goal for the Bees.
In the first season back in the league, following promotion from the Conference, Barnet went out at the opening stage losing, a little unluckily, 1-0 at home to Southend United, despite an outstanding performance from keeper, Ross Flitney.
The following season, 2006-07, proved to be Barnet's best ever season in the FA Cup. In the 1st round, the Bees were drawn way at Conference North club, Gainsborough Trinity and went ahead early on thanks to a Dean Sinclair goal. The home side kept going though and finally equalised in the second half and had the Bees struggling before Tresor Kandol, surprisingly on the bench, was brought on and settled the match with 2 goals as Barnet won 3-1.
The 2nd round brought a home draw with League One side, Northampton Town and Barnet were 1-0 down at half time to a goal by former Bees hero, Scott McGleish. However, a magnificent second half performance saw Northampton completely blown away as goals by Ian Hendon, Dean Sinclair, Magno Viera and Adam Birchall on his full debut saw the Bees through 4-1.
In the 3rd round, Barnet were drawn at home again, this time to Championship side, Colchester United. Again the home side fell behind in the first half, this time to a Jamie Cureton goal, but in another magnificent 2nd half performance, Barnet pushed back their opponents from two divisions above them with first an equaliser from Ismail Yakubu and then a wonderful winner from Jason Puncheon to send the Bees fans wild with a 2-1 win and the club through to the 4th round for the first time. The Barnet side that day were; Harrison; Hendon, King, Yakubu, Nicolau; Cogan, Sinclair, Bailey, Graham; Puncheon, Birchall. Subs: Hatch, Hessenthaler, Warhurst, Grazioli, Flitney.
The club were a bit disappointed with another Championship side in Plymouth Argyle in the 4th round draw, but pleased to be at home and there was a feeling that maybe the club could make the 5th round for the first time in their history. Unfortunately, after looking the better side in the first half, the Bees went down 2-0 to bring their splendid cup run to the end.
This season, the 1st round draw saw Barnet drawn at home to League One side, Gillingham and the return of ex Bees, Simon King and Barry Cogan. Not for the first time, Barnet were a goal down at half time but came back to win 2-1 with goals from Ismail Yakubu and Liam Hatch.
In the 2nd round, Barnet were drawn away at Conference club, Burton Albion. Barnet went ahead in the first half when a cross from Nicky Nicolau was finished off by Liam Hatch. Burton should have levelled the game just before half time when they were awarded a penalty but Lee Harrison saved easily from the spot. Burton finally grabbed a late equaliser through substitute Darren Stride and Barnet were left to hang on with 10 men after Nicky Nicolau was sent off after a second bookable offence.
In the replay, Adam Birchall scored in extra time to give Barnet a 1-0 win. In the 3rd round, Barnet gained a replay at Swindon with a 1-1 courtesy of another Adam Birchall goal and won the replay on penalties after the match finished 1-1 after extra time. A Paynter own goal for the Bees. In the 4th round, Barnet went down 1-0 at home to Bristol Rovers, who won with a Ricky Lambert goal after Jason Puncheon had missed a penalty in the early minutes for Barnet.
In 2008/09, Barnet were drawn at home to Rochdale in the 1st round and the two sides drew 1-1 with Ismail Yakubu scoring for the Bees. In the replay at Spotland, goals from Albert Adomah and John O'Flynn put the Bees 2-0 up before Rochdale hit back and eventually won 3-2 after extra time ending Barnet's interest in the competition for another year.
In 2009/10, Barnet were drawn at home to Darlington in the 1st round at Underhill and won 3-1 with two goals from John O‘Flynn and one from Micah Hyde. In the 2nd round, a late O’Flynn penalty gave the Bees a 2-2 draw away at Accrington; Ismail Yakubu scoring the first Barnet goal. However, the Bees gave a dismal display in the replay at Underhill going down 1-0.
In 2010/11, Barnet were draw at home to Charlton Athletic at Underhill and drew 0-0, being somewhat unlucky not to win. In the replay at the valley, the Bees outplayed their League One opponents but a superb display by Charlton keeper, Rob Elliott kept the Bees out and a Reid goal for the Valiants meant that Barnet went out of the tournament 1-0.
Last season, Barnet travelled to non-league, Southport in the 1st round winning 2-1 with goals from Clovis Kamdjo and Charlie Taylor. In the 2nd round, Barnet lost 3-1 at home to MK Dons; Izale McLeod scoring for the Bees.