In 2006/07, Barnet and Bury met at Underhill in the last fixture of 2006 on the 30th of December. The Bees came into the match on the back of three straight wins over Mansfield and Peterborough at home and away at Shrewsbury. The Bees had pushed up into the top half of the table and were beginning to show the sort of form that, if maintained, might possibly take them to the top half of the table.
However, the game started badly for Barnet when after just three minutes, the Shakers were awarded a penalty when Ismail Yakubu tripped Dwayne Mattis in the area. Bees' keeper, Ross Flitney dived the right way but Richie Baker's penalty was right in the corner and Bury were ahead.
It only took the home side four minutes to equalise however, Adam Birchall got the ball on the left hand side of the penalty area and played a neat pass out to Richard Graham who crossed for Nicky Bailey to head home from close range.
On 18 minutes, Barnet went ahead when a shot from outside the penalty area by Richard Graham was deflected by Barry Cogan to the feet of Adam Birchall who scored from close range. It was Birchall's third goal since joining the Bees on loan from Mansfield Town just a month previously, a loan move that was to be made permanent shortly after the New Year.
That proved to be the end of the scoring though there was drama when some of the floodlights failed midway through the first half. Both managers agreed to carry on through the semi darkness which was made worse when torrential rain fell, making the pitch into a swamp.
Dean Sinclair had a drive saved by Fettis, while an overhead kick by Simon King was turned onto the bar by the Bury keeper. In the second half, Sinclair and Cogan missed good chances, while Glynn Hurst missed Bury's best chance heading straight at Flitney.
Six minutes from time, Barnet were reduced to 10 men when Dean Sinclair was sent off for a two footed tackle and a second yellow card. With conditions getting worse, Liam Hatch had the goal at his mercy, in injury time, but slipped and lost his footing and the chance was lost. The game ended with Barnet winning their fourth consecutive match, this time by 2 goals to 1.
Barnet failed to sustain their play off push and had to be satisfied with finishing 14th. Bury finished21st, almost getting relegated, just four points above Boston United.
Barnet: Flitney; Devera, Charles, Yakubu, King; Cogan, bailey, Sinclair, Graham; Birchall (Hessenthaler 86), Puncheon (Hatch 72)
Subs not used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Warhurst, Nicolau.
Sent off: Sinclair (84)
Booked: Charles, Sinclair
Goals: Bailey 7, Birchall 18
Bury: Fettis: Woodthorpe (Kennedy 56), Challinor, Scott, Brass: Buchanan (Youngs 81), Mattis (Barry-Murphy 52), Baker, Pugh: Blinkhorn, Hurst.
Subs not used: Grundy, Fitzgerald.
Booked: Woodthorpe
Goal: Baker 3 (pen)
Att: 1959
