Nick Sandamas on a disappointing end to the season for Barnet FC

Action from Barnet v Hartlepool in 2023 — Barnet v Hartlepool – opening day 3-2 – Reece Hall-Richards (number 2) with Nicke Kabamba (behind him) – Credit – Nick Sandamas

After the Bees ended 2022/23 in play-off heartbreak with defeat to Boreham Wood, Dean Brennan’s side hoped to go one better this season.

Pre-season went well, with the Bees’ unbeaten run including wins over Crystal Palace and a Chelsea XI. The league season started well, too, with a 3–2 win over Hartlepool on opening day, and the Bees ended August on top with Nicke Kabamba hitting five goals.

September continued in the same vein, with notable away wins at Boreham Wood, York and Kidderminster, with the only loss being 4–2 v Rochdale.

The month of October saw a goal in added time by Kabamba, a 2–1 home win over AFC Fylde followed by a comeback win v Dorking. The FA Cup saw the Bees put four past Aveley in a replay.

League wins over Maidenhead and Oxford City sandwiched in between a draw against Solihull cemented the Bees position in second spot behind Chesterfield.

November began with victory at Curzon Ashton in the FA Cup, but then four successive league defeats followed, including a last minute loss at bitter rivals Wealdstone meaning the Bees were losing ground.

December saw a draw at Newport in the FA Cup, the replay lost 4-1. Borehamwood were thrashed 6-0 before Christmas, then Southend were beaten twice over the Christmas/New Year period, with the game against the Shrimps seeing the biggest crowd of the season at the Hive.

A bad January saw three away league defeats to Altrincham, Oldham and Gateshead with the only wins coming against Dagenham & Redbridge and Radcliffe in the FA Trophy.

The Bees were still in third come the start of February. Wealdstone nicked a point with a late goal again and the following week the Bees beat Welling in the FA Trophy 3–0 and came from behind twice to beat AFC Fylde, but lost to Aldershot and Chesterfield.

In March they lost to Woking and the FA Trophy run ended in the quarter final stage against Bromley. Dorking were hammered 6–0, the Bees equalling their biggest win of the season.

April began with a 3–1 win over relegated Oxford City. Two draws were followed by two wins to end the regular season in second, and secure a home tie in the play-off semi-finals.

But the game was one to forget for the 4,500 home fans, as Solihull hammered the sorry Bees 4–0.

Although the season ended on a sour note, progress has been made and hopes are high that this coming season will see Deano’s Bees end their seven-year exile from the Football League.

Read end of season reviews from supporters of the borough’s other football clubs: Hadley, Hendon and Wingate & Finchley.

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