Nick Sandamas on Barnet’s dwindling play-off aspirations

The sign outside the ground before Barnet FC's match at Crawley in March 2026 — The Bees took on Crawley earlier this month – (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Whichever way you look at it, Barnet are in a good position, mid-table with no fear of being dragged into a relegation scrap.

However the Bees’ results continue to be inconsistent and not knowing what team will turn up from one game to another has certainly derailed their play off chances.

An added frustration has been the continuing touchline ban for manager Dean Brennan, who has been unable to shout instructions from the bench and been confined to watching each game from elsewhere in the ground.

The Bees had rounded off February off with Nnamdi Ofoborh scoring the only goal to secure an important win over fellow play-off contenders Chesterfield (which made it two wins in a row) but last month started badly with a 2-0 defeat at Salford City, both goals coming late in the first half.

This was followed by a game against strugglers Newport County that again, as has happened too often this season, saw Barnet take the lead but fail to capitalise.

Callum Stead put them ahead but the Welsh side struck two unanswered goals in the second half to leave The Hive with all three points and condemn the hosts to a seventh home league defeat of the season.

Fellow strugglers Crawley Town followed and, despite Mark Shelton giving them the lead just short of the hour mark, Danilo Orsi scored a late penalty to ensure the points were shared to leave the men in black and amber in twelfth spot.

Second-placed MK Dons were next for the Bees in a lunchtime showdown that, on paper, looked a daunting task against a side who were second in the table and unbeaten in 13 games. As it turned out, the North Londoners turned the form book upside down to come from behind to claim a 3-1 victory.

Jon Mellish gave MK an early lead following an error by keeper Slicker but goals either side of the break by Danny Collinge, Kabongo Tshimanga and Idris Kanu fired the Bees to victory to reignite their play off aspirations.

They are now five points off the final play off spot with seven games remaining and this result will have given them plenty of confidence as they finished March with the visit of third placed Cambridge United amid hopes for another good result.

And, as we go into the last full month of games with the gaffer now back in the dugout, the Bees begin April with Easter encounters with leaders Bromley, then Fleetwood. This is followed by fixtures against Barrow, Notts County and Gillingham, all important games against teams at the the top and bottom of the standings.

One other piece of good news last month was for Sierra Leone’s Idris Kanu who received an international call up for the first time since 2022. He joins up with the Leone Stars for their friendlies against Oman and Azerbaijan. It’s a well-deserved call up for the winger who has been rewarded for his consistent form for the Bees.

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