PAST TIMES: Nuneaton Town

Last updated : 06 May 2014 By Jaybee

Barnet's 1-1 draw early last season the first time that the Bees had met Nuneaton in their present form. The club were formed in 2008 following the liquidation of Nuneaton Borough, who have met Barnet on many occasions in the past. Barnet won the game at Nuneaton 1-0 with a goal from Valinton Gjokaj, a screamer from outside the penalty area.

The first meeting between Barnet and Nuneaton Borough was back in the 1966/67 season when bot clubs played in the Southern League Premier Division, after the Bees had won promotion from the First Division, their first season as a professional club playing in the Southern League. Both games were drawn; 2-2 at Underhill, Les Eason scoring both goals for the Bees and 1-1 at Manor Park, Roger Figg scroring for the Bees. Interestingly, both games were played in front of crowds in excess of 3,000, the gate at Manor Park being 3730. The following season, Barnet did the double over Boro winning 2-1 at Underhill, Eason and Ricky George scoring and 3-2 at Manor Park, Eason, Figg & Roger Thompson scoring in front of a crowd of 4029, the highest for a game between the two clubs.

In 1968/69, an own goal and one fro Billy Meadows gave Barnet a 2-1 win at Underhill, while the game at Manor Park ended 1-1, Meadows scoring. Meadows was on the score sheet again the following season as Barnet won 2-1 at Underhill, Colin Powell scoring the other Bees' goal and it was Meadows who again scored for Barnet in a 1-1 draw at Manor Park.

In 1970/71, Lou Adams scored in a 1-1 draw at Manor Park, while Barnet won 3-0 at Underhill with goals from Peter Jenkins, Colin Powell and Ricky George. In 1971/72, Boro completed their first ever double over the Bees, winning 1-0 at Underhill and 2-1 a Manor Park, Powell scoring for the Bees.

The following season the club met five times. Alan Davies scored the Barnet goal in a 1-1 draw a Underhill, while the return league encounter saw two Ricky George goals give Barnet a 2-0 win, which was revenge for Nuneaton knocking Barnet out of the FA Trophy 1st round; in the 2nd replay, Boro hammered the Bees 5-0 after the first two games ended in draws; 0-0 at Manor Park and 2-2 at Underhill after extra time was abandoned because of rain. Dickie Plume and Colin Powell scored for Barnet.

In 1973/74, both matches ended 1-0 to the home side, Tony Turley scoring the Barnet goal at Underhill, while in 1974/75, Boro completed the double over Barnet again; 2-1 at Underhill, Ian Fusedale scoring and 4-1 at Manor Park, Ben Embury getting the Bees' goal.

At the end of the season, Barnet were relegated and the two clubs did not meet again until the 1977/78 season following Barnet's promotion back to the Premier Division. The game at Underhill was goalless and Nuneaton won 2-1 at Manor Park, Dennis Brown scoring. The following season, both teams won 2-0 away from home, Tony O'Hare and Jimmy Cleary scoring the Barnet goals at Manor Park.

At the end of the 1978/79 season, both clubs were admitted to the newly formed, Alliance Premier League. Both matches in the new competition ended as 2-1 wins for the home side; Gary French scoring at Manor Park and Steve Oliver and O'Hare scoring at Underhill. Steve Turner scored twice against Boro in the 3rd round of the Alliance League Cup in a 2-2 draw at Manor Park and Turner scored again in the replay which Barnet won 2-1, Oliver scoring the other Barnet goal. The two clubs also met in the 3rd round of the FA Trophy at Manor Park, Boro winning 2-1 despite a Steve Robinson goal for the Bees.

In 1980/81, Barnet won both games 1-0, Elwyn Roberts scoring the winner at Manor Park, Colin Barnes at Underhill. At the end of the season, Nuneaton were relegated, but bounced back the following season. Barnes scored the only goal at Underhill in 1982/83 while Nuneaton won 1-0 at Manor Park.

In 1983/84, a Steve Mahoney goal was not enough to stop Boro winning 2-1 at Underhill while Mahoney and Eddie Stein scored in a 2-2 draw at Manor Park. In 1984/85, both games ended 1-1, Stewart Atkins scoring at Underhill and David Pearce at Manor Park. The following season, Nuneaton again completed the double over Barnet, winning 4-1 at Manor Park, Dave Sansom scoring for the Bees and 1-0 at Underhill.

In 1986/87, Barnet did the double over Boro winning 4-1 at Underhill, Steve Mahoney grabbing a hat trick and Peter Brown scoring once, while the game at Underhill ended 3-1 with two goals from Nicky Evans and one from Gary Roberts. At the end of the season, Nuneaton were relegated due to financial irregularities, despite having finished 18th.

The two clubs didn't meet again until 2001/02, following Barnet's relegation from the Football League in 2001 and Boro regaining their Conference place in 1999. Barnet won 3-2 at Manor Park with a hat trick from Ben Strevens but Nuneaton won 1-0 at Underhill. In 2002/03, Junior Agogo and Wayne Purser scored as Barnet won 2-1 at Underhill. Agogo scored in the return at Manor Park, but Nuneaton won 3-2, Frazer Toms scoring the other Bees' goal.

At the end of the season, Nuneaton were relegated after finishing 20th.