Richards Shines as Jagger misses out at Cherrywood Road

It was a day, where FCBFCSA were left to rue missed chances, as a last minute equaliser from Welling United cost Barnet their first victory at Cherrywood Road.

Barnet were determined to cast off their reputation in recent years of a team that flattered to deceive in this tournament, and decided to adopt a professional approach to proceedings. Thanks to Rob Robertson, and Cantabrica coaches  http://www.cantabricacoaches.co.uk/ FCBFCSA and their supporters left Barnet Odeon at 9am on Sunday 6th May, in the luxury of the Barnet first team vehicle. The point of the early start was to give the players more time to saviour the comfort, as the coach driver decided to take a scenic inspirational route past Wembley Stadium and Twickenham. Only Lords was missing from the satellite navigation systems tour of London sporting meccas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The management team sat at the front of the coach rejigging the side, with the help of the more mature members of the playing squad Silvio Gradoni, and Robin Goldman.This was caused by the absence of Barnet's regular left side. Adam Martin had failed a midweek fitness test, and Matt Dodimead was a victim of having to rely on rail replacement buses on a bank holiday weekend. 

It was a somewhat weary Barnet side that arrived at Farnborough at 11:15am. Barnet certainly turned a few heads when the management team of John Hunt and Andy Cosier arrived suited and booted for the days proceedings. After a quick change, where Barnet's players were shocked to be handed Shrewsbury Town coloured shorts to wear, the team hotfooted it to the local wasteland behind the stadium where Andy Cosier led the team in a gentle warm up.

At midday, it was time for business. As was inevitable, the fixture computer pitted the Bees against local rivals Stevenage Borough, who put aside thoughts of their impending visit to the Wembley Arch, to focus on the big match.As Barnet ran on to the pitch they were informed that the game was not two halves but a staight 25 min match. There would be no half time. 

12pm Barnet 1 (Fenton pen) Stevenage 1

Barnet went into the first game playing a 4-4-2 formation. Barnet played some nice football. However their flowing football was not suited to the surface at Cherrywood Road. Barnet's first team manager Paul Fairclough had withdrawn his team from a friendly on the very same pitch a year ago. FCBFCSA are made of sterner stuff, or are more foolhardy, and were relishing putting the lessons learnt against the likes of Millwall and West Ham into practice.

Barnet took the lead courtesy of talisman Tony Fenton. Tony is infamous at Cherrywood Road. Veterans of the tournament talk with fondness of his starring role in previous competitions, and about his indiscretion of being sent off. However a tendancy to play the ball out of defence - on a surface that resembled a cross between a beach in Tenerife, and one at Ramsgate - cost Barnet the match as Stevenage equalised.

It was a slow start for Barnet, but important to have a point on the board. The team knew that they could do better, and were keen to move forward.

Goalkeeper  Kirby
Defence       Sav Alavi, Minton, Taylor, Clark
Midfield       Chillingworth, Currell, Gradoni, Barney
Attack         Fenton , Clayton

Sub Ramos For Barney

1pm Barnet 0 Woking 1

Barnet didn't have time to mull over thier first result. A half hour passed before an unchanged Barnet team lined up against Woking. This proved to be Barnet's worst performance of the season. The shape of the team was all wrong, and Barnet were overun in midfield. Clayton and Fenton were left stranded up front, as they were starved of service. The inevitable happened, and Barnet went a goal down. This stung the Bees into action. The team was reshuffled with the introduction of Flitney, and Ramos for Gradoni and Barney. The 3-5-2 formation looked much more promising. Sav Alavi, made numerous bursts down the right flank and was the best player on the park, as Barnet chased the game. Although beaten, Barnet were in with a change, and the formation augured well for the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goalkeeper  Kirby
Defence       Sav Alavi, Minton, Taylor , Clark
Midfield       Chillingworth, Currell, Gradoni, Barney
Attack          Fenton , Clayton

Subs Ramos For Barney
Flitney For Gradoni (Switch to a 3-5-2)


2pm Barnet 2 (Clark,Richards) Aldershot 0

Barnet went into their third game knowing that a win was essential to their chances of success in this tournament. Aldershot were the most fancied team leading up to this tournament, seeking their third successive title. The management team knew that the formation had to be 3-5-2 , and spent the time frantically moving personnel around to fit into the shape.

Gerry Currell volunteered to move back into defence. The decision came down to a choice of two from the three of Ramos, Chillingworth, and mom in the previous game Sav Alavi. Chillingworth had been out of sorts in the previous game, as could be expected after a long injury lay off. It was decided to plump for the pace of Ramos, and the guile of Chillingworth. Richards was the wild card in midfield, playing in only his second match in a Barnet shirt, after debuting against Millwall.

It worked superbly. The defence was solid. Minton and Currell, gelling together , as they had done all season. Taylor, adding muscle to the trio. Chillingworth was a rock in midfield, running across the pitch to make a crucial challenge at one point.

Chris Richards bossed the game, and Fenton and Clayton relished the improved service. Indeed it was the midfield that weighed in with two goals. Ross Clark opened the scoring with a pair of boots borrowed from Gerry Currell. He later confided " I only ever score in borrowed boots." This goal bettered his goal direct from a corner. Brushing aside Tony Fenton ; Clark struck the free kick in from 30 yards. Beckham or Carlos would have been proud of that goal. The Barnet galacticos of Fenton , Barney , and Clark, had turned up at Cherrywood Road.

Barnet could have had a hatful to be honest. Clayton missed with a header that struck the cross bar from a seemingly impossible angle.  Clayton was replaced late on , having worked tirelessly up front to save his legs for the fourth match. He commented. "....I have Liam Hatch as my inspiration." Young Benjamin Kentish from the youth team took his place on the wing while Ramos moved upfront.

Chris Richards added a second, slotting the ball across the keeper, when one on one with the keeper.  James Taylor almost made it three, with a burst from the back.

The one sour note in the game was the challenge by Ben Kentish who was unfortunate to be booked in a collision with the Aldershot goal. The damaged hand put the keeper out of the tournament. Ben Kentish was upset with this, who said after the game " I genuinely went for the ball. " Knowing the lad , who is not malicious I completely believe him. Ross Clark who was closer to the action commented , " Ben had to go for the ball, if he hadn't i would have rollicked him. He shouldn't have been booked." The booking cost Kentish a £10 fine.

Unfortunately the bad feelings continued after the match. A couple of the Aldershot team refused to shake the hand of the Barnet manager. One of them called the Barnet manager a dirty rhyme of his surname. A sad end to a great performance. Four points were on the board, with all to play for.

Goalkeeper  Kirby
Defence       Minton, Currell, Taylor
Midfield       Ramos, Chillingworth, Richards, Clark, Barney
Attack         Fenton , Clayton

Subs Kentish for Clayton


3pm Barnet 2 (Fenton, Richards) Welling United 2

The next match pitted Barnet against surprise package Welling United, from the Conference South. Welling had started well in the tournament, and other results left Barnet thinking only a win against Welling would give Barnet hope of victory in the competition. Barnet went into the game unchanged, with an injury scare over Ollie Minton suffering from bad blisters.

This proved to be the game of the tournament. The service from midfield was getting better and better. Fenton opened the scoring rounding the keeper while one on one with him. Welling equalised, through a Gerry Currell own goal.

Richards scored his second, with a blistering drive into the bottom right of the goal. Having almost come off early in the game Barney almost added a third.

Welling proved to be good value for their high position in the league. The Welling manager took the game to Barnet throwing on forwards. Ollie Minton kept Barnet in the lead late on kicking off the line. Richards, Currell and Minton looking solid at the back. This rearguard action , a feature of the teams 2006 - 2007 season.

Sadly, in injury time Welling scrambled an equaliser. The referee blew up for time before Fenton , could shoot from the half way line.

The result was as good as a win for Welling. It was a keenly contested but well spirited match. One flashpoint occurred was when Kentish was fouled soon after his arrival on the pitch, and Kentish had to act quickly to separate Clark and an opposing player. This things happen in football. Hopefully, FCBFCSA and Welling can meet in 2007-2008.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goalkeeper Kirby
Defence      Minton, Currell, Taylor
Midfield      Ramos, Chillingworth, Richards, Clark, Barney
Attack        Fenton , Clayton

Subs Kentish for Ramos

        Sav Alavi for Barney 

430pm Barnet 1 (Richards) Farnborough 0

The tournament seemed over realistically for Barnet. It appeared as though a cricket score against hosts Farnborough, and some freak results in the other matches would be the only way Barnet could come out on top.

With Craig Clayton jaded, and Ollie Minton unable to walk, it was an opportunity to give squad members a run out in the match. It was testimony to the wonderful team spirit in the camp, that not one member of the squad complained about not getting a run out. When called upon in the last game Flitney, and Carpenter, performed impeccably, helping the team to their second clean sheet.

The John Carpenter travelling fan club were thrilled with a classy performance in an unfamiliar right wing back position. The Ben Kentish teenybopper fan club were able to see the youth team captain shine in his first starting role, having arrived late.

As the game threatened to end in stalemate it was time to ring the changes. Chillingworth and Clark were replaced by Richards and Sav Alavi. Chillingworth, having been in the wars after a heavy collision with team mate Taylor. Clark had been nursing a head injury sustained in the bar. Not a hangover, but he had been hit by a picture knocked off the wall by John Hunt. Adding to his torn scrotum against Millwall, we wish him better luck next season.

Still the stalemate couldnt be broken, so it was time to call on the Tank. Robin Goldman, and Joel Ramos, came on for Barney and Kentish. Goldman resuming his partnership with Fenton.

With two minutes on the clock, to the biggest cheer of the afternoon, Tommy Salinger came on for the unfortunate Sav Alavi, who had barely been on the pitch. The manager had forgotten he hadn't started.

Remarkably Barnet ended the game with a last minute winner. A superbly floated free kick was met by bullet launched from the head of Chris Richards to complete effectively a hat trick in the 90 minutes he had been on the pitch combined in the tournament. Indeed some of the crowd thought it was Currell who had connected with the ball. It would have been his first goal for the bees.

It was a nice high on which to end the tournament.

Barnet manager John Hunt - " I am very proud of my whole squad. I don't think we were at our best today, but we fought well. We have a very young squad, a squad that will be together for a long long time. We can only get better, and look forward to next years campaign. Thanks to Andy Cosier for doing all the hard work behind the scenes. Thanks also to all our wonderful friends, who came along to support us. Thanks to Gerry for being such an inspirational captain this year, and all the lads for their endeveours. Thanks to Chris Viveash and Farnborough for putting on a wonderful tournament. It would be marvellous to return the complement at Underhill one year."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goalkeeper Kirby
Defence      Flitney, Currell, Taylor
Midfield      Carpenter, Chillingworth, Gradoni, Clark, Kentish
Attack        Fenton , Barney

Subs Richards for Chillingworth
Sav Alavi for Clark
Ramos for Kentish
Goldman for Barney
Salinger for Sav Alavi

It was a much quicker trip back to Underhill , with Madness live at Wembley accompanying the squad, and Pro Evolution Soccer, on the big screen. At Barnet the squad were met with the news that the goal conceded against Welling was the difference between bringing home the trophy, and having nothing to show for the hard work. Reflecting on the days events Clark summed up the mood of the camp; "We'll win it next year."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Cosier and Keith Doe , presented Gerry Currell with the player of the year award. Joel Ramos unanimously was voted young player of the year. Chris Richards, and James Taylor were the supporters choices as players of the tournament. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tournament panned out as follows ;

Results

11:00 Aldershot 0-0 Woking
11:30 Farnborough 0-1 Welling
12:00 Barnet 1-1 Stevenage
12:30 Aldershot 1-0 Farnborough
13:00 Woking 1-0 Barnet
13:30 Welling 1-1 Stevenage
14:00 Aldershot 0-2 Barnet
14:30 Woking 4-1 Farnborough
15:00 Welling 2-2 Barnet
15:30 Aldershot 0-2 Stevenage
16:00 Woking 0-2 Welling
16:30 Farnborough 0-1 Barnet
17:00 Woking 1-1 Stevenage
17:30 Aldershot 0-1 Welling
18:00 Farnborough 2-1 Stevenage

Final Table

1 Welling Pl 5 W 3 D 2 L 0 F 7 A 3 GD +4 Pts 11
2 Woking Pl 5 W 2 D 2 L 1 F 5 A 4 GD +1 Pts 8
= Barnet Pl 5 W 2 D 2 L 1 F 5 A 4 GD +1 Pts 8
4 Stevenage Pl 5 W 1 D 3 L 1 F 6 A 5 GD +1 Pts 6
5 Aldershot Pl 5 W 1 D 1 L 3 F 1 A 5 GD -4 Pts 4
6 Farnborough Pl 5 W 1 D 0 L 4 F 3 A 8 GD -5 Pts 3

Welling United, Champions Cherrywood Road , 2007

congratulations Welling.