I tried for two hours to get in to this match but I never got to. Prior to this match the Bees had well actually lets start from the beginning. Tony was appointed on the first of November, 2000. Why and how is unknown. Anyway John Still moved up to Director of Football to allow the veteran striker to take over as player manager. The Bees chairman who is still the chairman of the club Tony Kleanthous said this on his appointment ": "I am delighted John Still is joining the board and Tony Cottee has committed himself to a three-year contract with us.
"We would also like to thank Norwich for their co-operation in releasing Tony from his contract."
Tony's first game in charge gave the Bees there record win 7-0 against Blackpool. The previous record was 6-0 away at Lincoln in 1990. Tony's second game in charge was a disgrace even though we won the game 2-1 against Ryman League Minors Hampton and Richmond. The Bees were 1-0 down for most of the game until Tony Richards levelled for the Bees late on and then Darren Currie got a wonder goal to send the Bees in to the Second Round. The Bees two straight league defeats against Torquay and Cheltenham. But after a some terrible form the in March the Bees were 18th and had just lost 3-0 to Brighton. Tony Cottee then resigned and director of Football John Still took over but he couldn't save the Bees. The week before the game against Torquay the Bees lost 3-2 away at Blackpool and the Bees were bottom of the Football League needing a win or they will be out of the Football League on there 10th annivercary.
Final table:
| Nationwide League Division Three 2000/2001 | Historical league standings at 5th May 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pld | Home | Away | Overall | Pts | GD | ||||||||||||||||||
| W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |||||||||
| 1 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 52 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 73 | 35 | 92 | 38 | ||||
| 2 | Cardiff City | 46 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 56 | 20 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 39 | 38 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 95 | 58 | 82 | 37 | ||||
| 3 | Chesterfield * | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 46 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 33 | 28 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 79 | 42 | 80 | 37 | ||||
| 4 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 40 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 31 | 31 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 71 | 54 | 77 | 17 | ||||
| 5 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 31 | 18 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 28 | 33 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 59 | 51 | 75 | 8 | ||||
| 6 | Hull City | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 27 | 18 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 47 | 39 | 74 | 8 | ||||
| 7 | Blackpool | 46 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 50 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 24 | 32 | 22 | 6 | 18 | 74 | 58 | 72 | 16 | ||||
| 8 | Rochdale | 46 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 36 | 25 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 59 | 48 | 71 | 11 | ||||
| 9 | Cheltenham Town | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 37 | 27 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 22 | 25 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 59 | 52 | 68 | 7 | ||||
| 10 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 42 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 35 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 62 | 51 | 65 | 11 | ||||
| 11 | Southend United | 45 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 26 | 22 | 5 | 10 | 8 | 26 | 30 | 14 | 18 | 13 | 52 | 52 | 60 | 0 | ||||
| 12 | Mansfield Town | 45 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 25 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 43 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 61 | 68 | 58 | -7 | ||||
| 13 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 17 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 54 | 61 | 58 | -7 | ||||
| 14 | Macclesfield Town | 46 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 21 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 28 | 41 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 51 | 62 | 56 | -11 | ||||
| 15 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 39 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 49 | 65 | 55 | -16 | ||||
| 16 | Kidderminster Harriers | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 34 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 47 | 61 | 53 | -14 | ||||
| 17 | York City | 46 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 37 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 42 | 63 | 52 | -21 | ||||
| 18 | Lincoln City | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 36 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 36 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 57 | 64 | 51 | -7 | ||||
| 19 | Exeter City | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 38 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 40 | 58 | 50 | -18 | ||||
| 20 | Darlington | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 14 | 16 | 33 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 44 | 56 | 49 | -12 | ||||
| 21 | Torquay United | 46 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 30 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 48 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 52 | 77 | 49 | -25 | ||||
| 22 | Carlisle United | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 39 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 41 | 65 | 48 | -24 | ||||
| 23 | Halifax Town | 46 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 33 | 32 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 36 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 54 | 68 | 47 | -14 | ||||
| 24 | Barnet | 46 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 44 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 23 | 52 | 12 | 9 | 25 | 67 | 81 | 45 | -14 | ||||
Match report by Daniel Fox
A day after the 10th Anniversary for being in the Football League, Barnet FC got relegated back to the Conference. They were left cursing a penalty miss and an awful first half performance which allowed Torquay to go in 3-0 up at the break
It was the same starting 11 that lost at Blackpool apart from Harrison replacing Naisbitt. The subs bench consisted on Toms, Gower, Bell. Naisbitt and Strevens.
All but the main stand was packed at 2pm as thousands were left outside unable to get in due to the poor decision by Kleanthous not to make the game all ticket. The problem though was Torquay out sung Barnet the whole time, the police as usual were useless and us lot standing right up against the Torquay fans had to put up with constant abuse and things thrown at us the whole time.
Due to the packed East Stand I couldn't see a thing up by the goal at the north stand. Barnet though never troubled it so although I made sure I saw the penalty I wasn't put out at all.
In the first minute Harrison got stretchered off with torn ligaments in the ankle and dropped Danny Naisbitt returned. After 10 minutes he was picking the ball out of the net.
Barnet failed to clear a free kick and Goodhind's shocking clearance fell to Jason Rees who smashed the ball home from 25 yards out. The Torquay fans were loving it as Bees fans could even tell this early that we were going out of the football league. Barnet couldn't string a pass together, Doolan was having an awful game for Barnet and when he doesn't perform, Barnet don't perform.
15 minutes later Torquay doubled their lead, a Paul Holmes' corner was met with a firm header by Kevin Hill and the ball flew into the top right-hand corner despite the best efforts of Sam Stockley to clear the ball off the line.
When Torquay weren't attacking the game was a non-event. Barnet however were thrown a life line late on in the first half. Jimmy Aggrey handled a throw in when tussling with Richards and there was no doubt at all, penalty!
Darren Currie stepped up but man of the match, Gull's keeper Jones guessed the right way and saved with ease!
Torquay went up the other end and scored straight away, retaining their place in the football league for yet another year.
A break down the left saw Richard Kell deliver a perfect cross for David Graham, to firstly see Lee Flynn fall over, then smash the ball into the roof of the net.
Gower and Toms came on at half time to replace the ineffective Brown and the hopeless Flynn as it was all out attack for Barnet.
Barnet dominated possession but couldn't get the ball into the back of the net. There were opportunities but Barnet still lacked shots on target. Doolan fluffed chance after chance smashing the ball into the park behind the South Stand for fun!
Finally in the 60th minute a Currie cross was headed in, past his own keeper by Ryan Green. A glimmer of hope.
Barnet still missed chances as a 20 yard Stockley drive was brilliantly turned behind by Jones. Currie and Gower were instrumental in every Barnet attack although for some reason John Still didn't bring on Strevens.
In the last 15 minutes Jones dropped a cross and Heald poked the ball over the line. It should have been a foul but the referee who was poor through out allowed the goal to stand.
One more quick goal and the Bees were back in it. Sadly that didn't come and Gull's ancient Striker Gayle missed many chances after being put through.
Atleast the Bees female fans had some fun with 2 male streakers running on much to the annoyance of Heald and Naisbitt as the ball was robbed from under his feet.
It was too little too late as the stupid, unable police officers allowed Torquay fans to continue their celebrations onto the pitch which really rubbed it in.
The players quickly ran into the changing rooms and whether we will ever see the likes of Currie, Stockley, Doolan, Arber and Harrison again is very unlikely.
Barnet didn't deserve to win as the fact that they can only ever perform for 1 half has cost the Bees their place in Division 3. But what do they care? They will just all bugger off to bigger clubs and forget about Barnet. Whether Tony Kleanthous will stay is highly debatable as is the fact whether Barnet FC can survive or not.
It's time for a clearout, hopefully we will sign some new players who actually give a shit and want to play for Barnet Football Club, not just for themselves.
Congratulations Torquay
Happy Anniversary! Anyone believe in fate??
Team..............................
1. Lee Harrison
2. Sam Stockley
4. Lee Flynn
5. Greg Heald (c)
6. Mark Arber
12. Warren Goodhind
19. Danny Brown
11. Darren Currie
8. John Doolan
25. Wayne Purser
29. Tony Richards
Subs..............................
13. Danny Naisbitt
16. Mark Gower
17. Ben Strevens
20. Frazer Toms
21. Leon Bell