The first time the two clubs met in a competitive fixture was early in the 1993/94 season in the League Cup which was then called the Coca Cola Cup. Barnet had been promoted to Division 2 the previous season, but due to financial problems and punishments unfairly handed out by the Football League, Barnet lost most of the players that had taken them from the Conference o the third tier of the Football League. So for the new season, 1993/94, Barnet’s new manager, Gary Phillips had had to assemble a scratch side for the new season as best he could.
In the Coca Cola Cup, in the most ironic of draws, Barnet were paired with 1st Division side, Southend United, who were now managed by former Barnet boss, Barry Fry who had been the man largely instrumental in taking Barnet up two levels in three seasons. Barnet gave a strong and brave performance against a Southend side containing two players who had walked out on Barnet, Derek Payne and Jonathon Hunt. The Bees won the first leg 2-0 at Southend with goals from Tony Lynch and new signing, Alan Walker. The return leg at Underhill was drawn 1-1 with Barnet’s goal coming from another new player, Kelly Haag. At the end of the match, Fry congratulated every Barnet player as they came of the pitch. Barnet had won the tie 3-1 on aggregate and had won through to the 2nd Round of the League Cup for the first time.
The next time the two clubs met was in the 1998/99 season when both clubs were in Division 3. Barnet won 3-2 in Southend with Ken Charlery scoring twice and Marlon King once. Southend won the return at Underhill 2-0 at the end of the season. The following season, 1999/00, Barnet completed the double over Southend, winning 3-1 away with goals from Danny Brown (2) and Marlon King. In the return at Underhill, Mark Arber and Danny Brown scored for Barnet in a 2-1 win.
In 2000/01, Barnet lost 2-0 away at Southend, but won the return at Underhill 2-1 with goals from Ben Strevens and Darren Currie. At the end of the season, however, Barnet were relegated to the Nationwide Conference.
In 2005, Barnet won promotion back to the Football League and that season were drawn against Southend in the 1st Round of the FA Cup. Southend won a closely fought match 1-0.
Earlier this season, the two clubs met in the 2nd round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy at Underhill with the visitors winning 3-1; Mark Byrne scoring the Barnet goal.
Last month, Southend triumphed again at Underhill, this time in a League Two match, the visitors winning 2-0.