Barnet and Notts County meet at Meadow Lane on Saturday. In April 2006, the two clubs met at Underhill with Barnet desperate for points. The Bees were just 1 point above the drop zone with just 7 matches left to play. County appeared safe in mid table. Barnet had won only once in nine matches.
Manager, Paul Fairclough gave a debut to veteran centre back, Paul Warhurst and they looked certain to take an early lead when Tresor Kandol was put through by Ben Strevens and looked as though he had the goal at his mercy after rounding the keeper, but he sent his shot wide.
County had chances through Michael Edwards and Julien Baudet while a Paolo Vernazza header was blocked by County’s Steve Scoffham. County should have scored soon after when Ross Flitney came out of his goal to block a shot from Dan Chillingworth only to see it run to Liam Needham. Fortunately, Anthony Charles was there to clear the ball away. Just before half time, Ben Strevens saw his effort well saved by County keeper, Kevin Pilkington.
HT 0-0
The second half started disastrously fro the Bees as in the opening minute County took the lead. Barnet were caught on the break by a long ball from Nathan Doyle found Scoffham who slotted the ball past Flitney.
Many Barnet fans were fearing the worst and must have begun to wonder if the Bees were going straight back down to the Conference. Ten minutes after County’s goal, an incident happened that seemed to change the game in Barnet’s favour. Barry Fuller was seemingly elbowed in the face only for the officials to ignore it and incense the Barnet players who seemed to be motivated by this injustice.
On 63 minutes, Ben Strevens bundled the ball into the net following a Nicky Bailey corner, only for the referee to award Barnet a penalty, even though many Barnet fans felt that it was Strevens who had handled the ball. Ian Hendon stepped up and blasted the penalty home to make it 1-1. Seven minutes, later and Barnet were awarded a second penalty when Vernazza sent a long ball into the penalty area for Hessenthaler to chase, only for him to be pulled over by David Pipe. Hendon blasted the second spot kick home to put the Bees 2-1 up
In the last minute, Barnet almost threw two points away when a poor Bailey pass back only found County’s Stacy Long who should have equalised but his shot sailed high over the bar.
At the end of the season, Barnet and County were still in danger of relegation on the last day of the season. Barnet won 2-1 at Rushden to finish 18th. County took just 3 points from their last 6 matches and finished 21st.
FT 2-1
Barnet: Flitney, Hendon, Charles, Clist, Warhurst, Bailey, Strevens, Fuller, Vernazza, Hessenthaler (Sinclair 79), Kandol.
Notts County: Pilkington, Pipe, Edwards, Baudet, Doyle, Palmer, Crooks, Scoffham, Ullathorne, Needham (Long 82), Chillingworth (White 70).