Barnet travel to Meadow lane in relegation battle
Last updated : 08 March 2008 By Jaybee
Tomorrow, Barnet travel to play the oldest club in the Football League, Notts County, who were formed in 1862. County, who play at Meadow Lane, are struggling at the wrong end of the table and are currently 18th with 34 points from 34 games. Earlier this season they sacked manager, Steve Thompson and appointed former player, Ian McParland as their new manager.
Barnet and Notts County have met just seven times in league football. The first match was in the 1997-98 season when County completed a double winning 2-1 at Underhill and 2-0 at Meadow Lane. Current Barnet assistant manager and player, Ian Hendon, was in the County side on both occasions and, indeed, captained County to the Division 3 championship and promotion at the end of the season, picking up 99 points. Barnet finished seventh and lost 3-2 on aggregate to Colchester United in the play offs.
The next time the two sides met was on 2nd January 2006 at Meadow Lane, following Barnet's promotion back to the league the previous spring. A Dan Martin gave County a 1-0 win. In the return at Underhill in April with both teams needing points to pull away from the bottom of the table, two Ian Hendon penalties gave Barnet a much needed 2-1 win after Steve Scoffham had put the visitors ahead. Last season, Barnet gave away a 2-0 lead at Underhill to lose 2-3. Ian Hendon, with a penalty, put the Bees ahead and Jason Puncheon made it 2-0 before goals from Alan white and Andy Parkinson put County level at half time. A Jason Lee goal in the second half gave County a 3-2 win. In the return at Meadow Lane, a Nicky Bailey goal for Barnet cancelled out a Lawrie Dudfield penalty in a 1-1 draw. The two sides also met last season in the 1st round of the JPT, Barnet winning 1-0 with a goal from Tresor Kandol. Earlier this season, the two sides met at Underhill where a Jason Puncheon goal was cancelled out by a Richard Butcher equaliser for County.
The last time that Barnet played on the 8th of March was in 2003 when the Bees lost 2-0 at home to Stevenage Borough in a Nationwide Conference match. Players who have played for both clubs in the past include Matt Redmile, Tony Scully, Alex Dyer and current Bees' assistant manager, Ian Hendon.
In goal, County have former Mansfield keeper, Kevin Pilkington who joined County two seasons ago. Pilkington will miss the Barnet game as he is out for two months with a leg fracture. His place will go to the experienced, Russell Hoult who is on loan for the rest of the season from WBA.
In defence; Lee Canoville is a former Torquay United player who signed from Boston United last season, Adam Tann signed in the summer from Leyton Orient after helping them win promotion to League One, Paul Mayo signed in the summer from Lincoln City, Stephen Hunt came from Colchester United, a year ago, where he found it hard to get into the first team and Austin McCann signed a year ago from Boston United, having previously played for a number of years in Scottish football with Airdrie, Hearts and Clyde. Mike Edwards is in his fourth season with the club having made over 100 appearances for County since signing from Grimsby Town. He was previously with Colchester and Hull City. The experienced Michael Johnson has joined the club on loan from Derby County until the end of the season. Johnson began his career at Meadow Lane, making over 100 appearances for the club before moving to Birmingham City in 1995 and he went on to make over 300 first team appearances for City before moving to Derby in 2003 and made over 100 appearances for the rams.
In midfield, former Lincoln City player, Richard Butcher signed in the summer from Peterborough, the experienced Neil McKenzie, who has played for stoke City, Mansfield Town and Macclesfield amongst others was another summer signing, this time from Scunthorpe United, Gary Silk, who was briefly at Barnet during Martin Allen's time here, was signed a year ago from Portsmouth having spent time on loan at Boston United, Myles Weston was signed in the summer from Charlton Athletic following a short loan spell at Meadow Lane last season. Former Southend United player, Jay Smith moved to County in the summer of 2006 from Oxford United. Matthew Somner joined the club at the same time from Aldershot and was previously at Brentford, Bristol Rovers and Cambridge United. Andy Parkinson is another very experienced player, having begun his career at Tranmere Rovers where he made over 200 appearances for the Merseyside club. He went on to play for Sheffield United and Grimsby before moving to County in 2006. Ali Gibb, who has played for Stockport County, Bristol Rovers, Northampton and Norwich City, is on loan from Hartlepool. Gavin Strachan was signed in the January transfer window from Peterborough. Strachan was previously with Hartlepool, Coventry City and Southend.
Up front, County have Lawrie Dudfield, a regular scorer against the Bees in recent seasons for County and Boston and Northampton, who joined County a year ago from the Cobblers, 36 year old, Jason Lee is a former Watford, Nottingham Forest and Boston United player who came to County a year ago following a short spell at Northampton, Danny Crow who is on loan from Peterborough United, Ryan Jarvis who is on loan from Norwich city and former Lincoln City player, Spencer Weir-Daley.
