Barnet started the 2011/12 in optimistic mood after the fine end to the previous season and with the majority of the team intact. Lawrie Sanchez who had been brought in as consultant to assist Giuliano Grazioli was made manager for the new season with Graz as his assistant and hopes were high of a much improved season, maybe even a play-off push?
The season opened with a win on the opening day for the first time since Barnet were promoted back to the league in 2005. Byrne scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Morecambe. The following Tuesday, Barnet travelled to Championship club, Portsmouth in the opening round of the Carling Cup and came back with a shock 1-0 win. However, this fine start to the season turned out to be something of an illusion as Barnet’s form, particularly in the league, rather slumped from thereon. Mark Byrne’s own lack of goals rather reflected the fact that, with the exception of Izale McLeod, there were not enough goals coming from other parts of the team notably in midfield. Byrne did not score again until mid-November in the 2-0 away win at Bristol Rovers.
During the first half of the season, Barnet were to struggle mainly in the bottom half of the season, though in the cup competitions the Bees fared better. In the second round of the Carling Cup, Barnet were unlucky to go out 3-2 after extra time away to another Championship side, Burnley and in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, the club reached the final of the Southern Area competition defeating Gillingham, Cheltenham and Brentford before losing 2-1 on aggregate in the final to Swindon Town and thus just missing out on a trip to Wembley.
In the league, after a promising run of winning four matches in a row in January, results deteriorated disastrously after going out of the JPT with the team taking just two points from their next seven games. Byrne, who had scored in the excellent 2-1 win away at Northampton Town in January, scored a rare goal to help Barnet gain a point in the 1-1 home draw with Rotherham.
After a surprise win away at Port Vale, results slumped again, Barnet taking just 3 points from their next 8 games, meaning that after their run of four wins in January, the Bees gained just 8 points from 16 matches. Little wonder then that after the 1-1 home draw with relegation rivals, Hereford united, Sanchez was sacked to be replaced by Martin Allen, taking up the reins at the club for the third time.
Allen’s first game in charge was a 3-0 defeat at Southend United, but the following week, Barnet won their first match in 10 matches, winning 4-0 at home to AFC Wimbledon, meaning the club only had to win their last game of the season at Burton Albion to ensure safety. After a day of much drama, which included a missed penalty by Burton striker, Calvin Zola, penalties not give to the Bees and a last minute save by Dean Brill, the Bees emerged with a 2-1 win and League Two safety on the last day for the third year running. Mark Byrne and Mark Hughes scored the goals for the Bees and Byrne finished the season with five goals, not many but the last one was a very vital one. Interestingly, Byrne scored on the first and last days of the season when both games were won. It was just a shame that the rest of the season didn’t quite match up to it, either for Byrne or Barnet.
