Barnet met Aldershot Town in September 2003 with both teams in the Nationwide Conference. Barnet, after a sluggish start, had moved up to 5th in the table after taking 11 points from their last 5 matches. Aldershot, who had come up from the Ryman Premier the previous season, were a point ahead of the Bees in 4th place.
Barnet’s manager, Martin Allen had taken over as full time manager in the summer, having been caretaker since March following the departure of Peter Shreeves and he had initiated a huge clearout of the playing staff during the summer and had assembled what was a hungry, largely young new look team, with experience in many key places. Allen had signed the experienced former Tottenham and Notts County defender, Ian Hendon from Peterborough as his new captain. Hendon had been at Underhill during the previous season for a short spell on loan from Sheffield Wednesday and had taken to the club and the fans had taken to him.
Allen had also signed the former QPR central defenders, Danny Maddix and Chris Plummer. Plummer had been the target of a number of league clubs but had chosen to be part of the Barnet revolution instead. Up front, Allen had signed Bristol Rovers’ charismatic striker, Giuliano Grazioli as part of the deal that took the previous season’s leading scorer at Underhill, Junior Agogo, to Eastville. Grazioli had already scored 9 goals in 8 matches.
Barnet were without inspirational captain, Ian Hendon and his place in the side was taken by Mark Rooney. There were home debuts for Peter Beadle, newly arrived from Brentford and fresh from scoring on his debut at Stevenage and goalkeeper, David Forde on loan from West Ham.
The Bees started well and were ahead within five minutes when Mark Rooney crossed for the right and Giuliano Grazioli challenged Shots’ keeper, Nikki Bull and the ball fell to Ben Strevens who guided it home to put Barnet 1-0 up. Strevens could have put the Bees two ahead but volleyed past the post following a cross by Mark Williams. Grazioli then headed just over the bar following good work by Williams and Barnet’s Irish midfield player, Joe Gamble, on loan from Reading.
Barnet were well in control of the game and nearly went further ahead just before half time. Bull and Grazioli collided and the ball fell to Peter Beadle whose shot from outside the area hit the post. Bull was injured and had to be substituted.
Half Time: Bees 1 Shots 0
Barnet started the second half just as they started the first. Gamble shot just wide of the post, then Lewis Hogg played a fine one-two with Grazioli and brought out an excellent save from substitute keeper, Richard Barnard. Finally, Barnet extended their lead when a long ball from centre back, Danny Maddix eventually found Grazioli who volleyed the ball into the far corner of the net. It was his 10th goal in just 9 matches.
Aldershot pulled back a goal late on through Tim sills but Barnet hung on comfortably to gain the three points that took them above Aldershot and into 4th place. At the end of the season, Barnet gained a play-off place by finishing 4th, but lost out to eventual play-off winners, Shrewsbury, in the semi-final. Aldershot finished 5th but reached the play-off final where they lost to Shrewsbury.
Full time: Bees 2 Shots 1
Barnet: Forde; Rooney, Plummer, Maddix, Yakubu; Williams, Hogg, Gamble, Strevens; Grazioli, Beadle (Taggart)
Aldershot: Bull (Barnard); Hooper, Warburton, Sterling (Rodwell), Chewins; D’Sane, Manuella (Tanfield), Hammond, Challinor: Sills, McClean.