In 1990/91, Barnet, after several near misses, were pushing again for promotion from the Conference to the Football League and were involved with a tight scrap with Altrincham, Colchester and Kettering at the top of the table, all hoping to go up that year.
After a disappointing 3-2 defeat at home to Kidderminster in early April, the Bees had dropped back to 4th place, but had then gained two 3-1 wins against Macclesfield and SloughTown and drawn 2-2 away at Stafford. With the other clubs faltering, Bees’ manager, Barry Fry new that wins at home to Welling and away at Wycombe were crucial before the last game of the season away at Fisher Athletic who had lost 8-1 at Underhill in October.
Barnet went ahead in the first half, roughly on the half hour, through Gary Bull after a Welling player inadvertently played the ball back towards Welling keeper, Barron who failed to hold on to the ball at Bull’s feet in the penalty area and Bull collected the ball and slotted home. Just before half time, Frank Murphy scored Barnet’s second after a brilliant solo run culminated in a superb shot into the top left hand corner of the net. At half time, the Bees led 2-0.
However, half way through the second half, Welling’s Booker scored with a header from a cross from former Bee, Gary Abbott and a few minutes later, Abbott was involved again in the build up that led to a future Bee, Terry Robbins, equalising for the Wings. Suddenly, it seemed to have turned from being a comfortable win for Barnet to disaster, but late on, substitute, Mark Carter was brought down in the penalty area and Gary Bull planted the penalty past Welling keeper, Barron to give Barnet three crucial points.
The following Monday, Barnet won 3-1 away at Wycombe and on the Saturday, gained a historic victory away at Fisher; their 4-2 win clinching promotion to the Football League for the first time.
The Barnet side at home to Welling was; Phillips, Howell, Wilson, Poole, Bodley, Richardson, Tomlinson (Lynch), Willis, Bull, Lowe, Murphy (Carter).