Darlington pip Bees to Conference title

Barnet lost their opening match of the season 2-1 at Altrincham, but the settled down, winning the next three matches in a row. Cheltenham were dispatched by 4-0 at Underhill with Gary Bull scoring twice and then Chorley were given an even heavier drubbing, the Bees winning 5-0, Derek Payne scoring twice. Dave Regis then also grabbed a brace in a 3-1 away win at Sutton United as the Bees aimed to keep pace with promotion favourites, Darlington, who had been relegated from the league at the end of the previous season.

However, following those three runs on the trot, Barnet’s league form was rather erratic. Defeats at newly promoted, Merthyr Tydfil and at home to Boston United followed and though two Frank Murphy goals gave the Bees a 2-1 win away at Fisher, the Bees’ form continued to be a little stuttery. Draws at home to Runcorn and Welling United followed, but the bees then won three matches on the spin in early October, winning 1-0 away at Farnborough, then beating Telford 2-1 at Underhill, before then winning 2-1 away at Boston United by the same score. Yeovil Town beat the Bees 3-2 in a five goal thriller and the Bees ended October in 4^th place, 6 points behind the leaders, Darlington, who had two games in hand.

In the FA Cup, Barnet progressed through the qualifying rounds with wins over Bishops Stortford (1-0), Newmarket Town (4-2) and Cambridge City 4-3) to take them into the 4^th qualifying round. In the 4^th Qualifying round, the Bees were drawn away at Burton Albion, then in the Southern League Premier Division. The two sides drew 2-2 at Eton Park, with both the Brewers’ goals being own goals by Barnet’s Mick Bodley. However, Gary Bull spared the Bees’ defender’s blushes by scoring the only goal in the replay at Underhill to send the Bees through to the 1^st round of the FA Cup proper, where they were drawn to meet Division 3 (now League One) side, Bristol City at Ashton Gate. 

At the beginning of November, the Bees travelled to Darlington to play the league leaders who were unbeaten. Barnet gave a terrific display as they completely dominated the match with a number of chances being wasted and, as happens so often, it was the home side that went ahead. However, The Bees were not to be denied and goals from David Gipp and Gary Poole gave Barnet a deserved win and Darlington their first defeat of the season. The Barnet side that day was; Guthrie, Wilson, Stacey, Poole, Reilly, Payne (Gridelet), Stein, Murphy (Gipp), Bull, Cooper, Bodley.

The following Saturday, barnet won 1-0 at home to barrow before meeting Bristol City in the 1^st round of the FA Cup. Despite an excellent performance which more than matched the League Two side, the Bees went down 2-0 and were out of the Cup.

Barnet’s league form continued to be a little inconsistent despite that terrific win away at Darlington and they won only one of their next four league matches, a 4-1 home win over Farnborough Town with Frank Murphy scoring a hat trick.

However, a 2-0 home win over neighbours, Enfield on Boxing Day sparked off a run of eight consecutive league wins that took the Bees right back into the promotion hunt. Sutton, Merthyr, Kettering and Fisher all had four goals scored against them and the Bees completed the double over Enfield with a 3-1 win at Southbury Road on New Years’ Day.

Goalkeeper, Peter Guthrie, a £60,000 buy from Tottenham, was proving erratic and costing the Bees valuable points by giving away soft goals. Fry stepped into the transfer market and re-signed Gary Phillips from Reading for £12,500.

After a 4-1 home win over Fisher Athletic late in February, the Bees form became more erratic with defeats at Welling and Cheltenham either side of home wins over Northwich and Kidderminster. By the time Barnet met Telford United at home near the end of March, Barnet were in second place, a point behind Darlington, who had two goals in hand. There was a 7 point gap to 3^rd placed Macclesfield Town.

Wins over Telford and Wycombe meant that when Barnet and Darlington met at Underhill on the last day of March, Barnet were four points ahead of Darlington, who had three games in hand.

On the day, the Bees did not really turn up and two first half goals by Borthwick and Corner gave Darlington a 2-0 win. The Barnet side that day was; Phillips, Wilson, Stacey, Poole, Beattie, Gridelet, Stein, Clarke, Bull, Regis (Cooper), Harding (Welsh). Barnet’s defeat was costly. Now they were only one point ahead of Darlington who had three games in hand.

Barnet won four out of their last six matches and drew the other two, but despite their fine end of season form, they finished two points behind Darlington at the end of the season and it was the Quakers who were promoted to the football league. For the third time in four seasons, the Bees had finished as runners up and missed out on promotion. Were Barnet always going to be the bridesmaid and never the bride?

GOALSCORERS