Thankfully, the match, being in Oxford, was one of the shorter trips in comparison to the likes of Rotherham, Torquay and Macclesfield Town.
After three or four days of constantly checking my phone for weather updates, due to the ‘big freeze,’ it was at about quarter two ten when the announcement was made that the game was going to be on. The only other game played in League 2 was Stockport’s trip to Northampton, so the weather in areas must have been very bad. However, in and around Oxford, the roads seemed to fine and their hardly seemed to be a speck of snow or ice in sight. Also, in the stadium, the pitch looked in a fabulous state considering the adverse conditions that had swept across the country. The stage was set for a cracking, winter League 2 match.
For those of you who weren’t at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday, it’s a nice, modern ground with only three sides. At one end, there is no stand at all and you can see right onto the car park as well as the nearby industrial estate equipped with a multi-screen cinema and fast-food outlets. When you drive into Oxford’s car park, it’s like you’re driving in through the face of the stadium onto a concrete pitch. I’d have liked to see what the view of the stadium from the outside at the car park end would have been like from whilst the match was taking place.
Instead, I was scoffing a bottomless pit of tea and chips in the warmth of one of the famous boxes at the Kassam Stadium watching Barnet surrender yet another halftime lead- (more of that later though.) Sitting in a box at an opposition’s stadium is a whole different experience than sitting in and around your own fans. On one hand, it was a great feeling of smugness and joy when Barnet scored, but as soon as Oxford were on top, I just wanted the ground to swallow me up. I would like to say that I always watch Barnet matches and make notes for the match reports from a luxurious box every week. Unfortunately, I’m afraid to say, it’s not like that. I take my notes from the East Terrace at Underhill come rain and shine, and sit or stand at away matches, usually behind the goal, with the away fans, screwing my eyes to see the players names and shirt numbers. I hope that shows all you budding journalists starting out like I am, that it’s not all glamorous and luxury boxes every week.
I am in no means trying to seek pity. I do support Barnet and being with the fans at most games, but sometimes I wonder why I bother. The amount of times we go in at halftime the better team, and them come out for the second half looking like a completely different side, is ridiculous. The first half at Oxford, the Bees looked solid defensively and hardly allowed the opposition a decent attempt on target. In the second half, Oxford made a few changes including the fans favourite James Constable coming on. Constable was a constant threat when he came on. He forced the Anwar Uddin own goal with his sheer persistence and determination, and when he scored the winning goal with 7 minutes to go, it was probably deserved from his personal point of view. If Constable started the match, who knows what the final score would have been.
On a brighter, amber, note, Mark Marshall probably played the best I’ve seen him play. His first touch was unusually good, especially on such a slick, wet surface, and it looked like he could have run at full pelt all afternoon. I don’t think he is as good as Albert Adomah and Yannick Bolasie, but I think he could play in a higher division. He has off days and then good days like on Saturday and with such a poor squad, it is understandable that he is widely considered our new fan favourite.
I believe that Barnet are the second smallest team in League 2, in terms of stadium and finances. In my opinion, although flying pretty high in the league table at the moment, I believe that Accrington Stanley are the smallest team in the division. I know they have a bunch of hardy supporters, but their Crown Ground isn’t up to much at all. But that doesn’t matter, as all being well, Underhill is the venue next Saturday for the visit of Stanley, and as per usual, I will be writing a match report for you on that match. Again, let’s try and pack Underhill and prey for another long awaited three points.