Nick Sandmas with his monthly update on the fortunes of Barnet FC

Accrington Stanley FC's ground with "The Club That Wouldn't Die" sign in the foreground — The Bees visit Accrington Stanley during February

Credit – robert wade / The Pitch, Accrington Stanley Football Club, Fraser Eagle Stadium, Livingstone Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 5BX – via Wikimedia Commons

After Barnet were beaten 3-1 by play off chasers Salford City just before Christmas, the Bees found themselves in the bottom half. After that, a draw and two wins over the Christmas and new year period saw them back amongst the top end.

One man who has been at the key to this improvement is 22-year-old centre half and right back Adam Senior, who has taken his second chance in the league well with a string of fine performances in the backline for the black and amber.

Having joined the ranks of his boyhood team Bolton Wanderers, he made his first team debut in 2019 aged 17 for the then League Two Trotters in an away game at Gillingham where they were beaten 5-0.

He netted his first ever professional goal against Shrewsbury in the EFL Trophy in 2021, then embarked on a series of loan deals for the next two years taking in Ashton United, Chorley, York City, AFC Telford and FC Halifax, who he joined permanently in 2023 after being released by Bolton, for whom he made only four first team appearances.

He was a mainstay for the Shaymen in his two seasons with the West Yorkshire outfit.

In his first season (whilst on loan) they made the play offs but fell short and, last season, he was ever present in a campaign where they finished just below the dotted line.

Dean Brennan jumped at the chance to sign the out-of-contract Bolton lad last summer and he has been the perfect replacement for Ade Oluwo in the back four alongside Danny Collinge and Nik Taveres.

Senior’s goalscoring qualities have been shown too, with six goals mainly from set pieces, including the opener in a 2-0 win against Bristol Rovers to end the year on a high.

The first game of 2026 saw Senior’s fellow defender Joe Kizzi on the scoresheet twice in beating Crawley 2-1 to leave them in the top half of a topsy turvy division.

With the weather putting paid to the next two fixtures, the Bees were back on the pitch for the visit to Grimsby which ended up in a single goal defeat. Kizzi was shown a red card (since rescinded) early on and the Bees did well to concede only one goal in defeat, the result dropping them back into the lower half as we went to press.

With the transfer window also open last month, boss Brennan was actively in business strengthening his squad with Leyton Orient duo Phillip Chinedu and Dialling Jaiyesimi joining on loan until the end of the season, and experienced striker Kabongo Tshimanga coming in from Crawley Town.

Tshimanga went straight into the starting eleven for the visit of Oldham which resulted in the Bees winning by the odd goal in five thanks to a debut double from the former Crawley man.

Departing were Joe Hugill (who returned to parent club Man Utd), Ryan Galvin, Ollie Kensdale and Lee Ndlovu to Carlisle, Boreham Wood and Notts County respectively with youngsters Bright Siaw and Patrick Matejko going out on loan to gain much needed game time and further experience.

This month, the Bees have seven games in their hectic schedule, including the two recently postponed fixtures. This means home games against Crewe, Cheltenham, Swindon and Chesterfield, alongside trips to Walsall, Colchester and Accrington Stanley.

Another crucial month awaits the boys in black and amber, and how they cope with the games coming up thick and fast will be a big factor in determining their position at the end of their first season back in the EFL.

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.