Nick Sandamas on Barnet FC’s promotion hopes

Barnet play Hemel Hemstead in a pre-seaon friendly — The Bees in action at Hemel Hempstead (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

With a pre-season campaign including a victory over League Two MK Dons almost over, it is now time for the Bees to turn their attention to the real business, with the National League season starting this month.

Dean Brennan’s side, having come so close to promotion in the last two seasons only to fall short in the play-offs, have shown their intent by adding to last season’s squad with 12 new signings. These include the permanent signing of last season’s on loan midfield rock from Mansfield Town, Anthony Hartigan.

Other players to enter The Hive door during a hectic summer of transfer activity were keeper Nik Hayes, left back Myles Kenlock, central defenders Joe Rye, Joe Kizzi and Joe Grimwood, wingers Jermaine Francis and Nik Taveras, midfielders Billy Clifford and Mark Shelton, striker Rhys Browne and attacking midfielder Finley Wilkinson, who struck 16 times for Hitchin Town last season.

Academy product Patrick Matejko also became part of the first team squad after the 17-year-old signed his first professional contract at The Hive after showing some promise when coming off the bench in the latter part of last season.

Having been installed as firm favourites to win the title and end their seven-year exile from the EFL, the Bees will be hoping to live up to that tag as they start with six games during the month of August.

They begin on Saturday 10^th August with a trip to the Shay to face FC Halifax Town, who under manager Chris Millington made it into the final play off position on the final day of last season only to be beaten in extra time in the eliminator by Solihull Moors, who then went on to dismantle the Bees in the semi final.

This is then followed a week later with the short trip over the Dartford crossing and into Kent to face Ebbsfleet, who just survived the drop by the skin of their teeth last season and are now under new management.

Two tough home games follow, with newly-relegated Forest Green Rovers the opponents for the Bees’ first home game of the season under The Hive’s floodlights, followed by Southend United on the Saturday for the start of the bank holiday in what should a cracker of a game played in front of a decent crowd.

Bank Holiday Monday sees the Bees on the road to Alan Devonshire’s Maidenhead United with the month closing against last season’s National League North champions Tamworth.

Six games to start the season and, for all Bees fans, the hope that this will be the start of something big.

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