FCBFCSA 3

ASBQPR   4

Metropolitan Police Ground , Bushey

Saturday January 26th 2008

Señorita, feel the conga, let me see you
move like you come from Colombia

Mira en Barranquilla se baila asi, say it!
Mira en Barranquilla se baila asi

It was a strong Barnet side on paper that took to the field against QPR. Bolstered by the late arrival , Tony Fenton who made extra effort to get to the game for kick off, Barnet lined up in a simple 4 - 4 -2 formation as follows ;

Ryan Barney

Ross Clark, Ollie Minton, Gerry Currell, Jake Manzi

Chris Richards, James Taylor, Patrick Nally, Joel Ramos

Tony Fenton, Craig Clayton

Subs ; Niall Ward, Tom Salinger, Robin Goldman.

Unfortunately the game was played on grass, and not paper, and for a lot of the game Barnet were given the run around by an unusual looking Queens Park Rangers supporters team. And it was the lush grass of the beautifully manicured Bushey Sports Club pitches.

A few of the Barnet team fancied a career in the police, having seen the facilities on offer. The pitch and putt course, the crazy golf, and ..... Red Hot Abba in concert in March.

As befits their recent millionaire status, ASB fielded a team which included a sprinkling of Colombians, as well as two Scottish lads, signed from Heart Of Midlothian supporters. Actually the accents on the field, made one feel as though FCBFCSA were taking on Millionaros of Columbia. ASB even had a Brasilian goalkeeper called Carlos. This gave us hope ! The team had been completely reshaped from last season when the Tommy Tank partnership caused them so many problems, and FCBFCSA lost to a last minute goal.

ASB have a history of supporters team transfers with the much fabled Jordan , switching allegiances from QPR to West Ham.

It transpired that the Columbian lads were on a midwinter break from their own competition.

This actually displeased some of the QPR side, who felt perhaps they were not getting a fair crack of the whip as true Rangers fans. Our lads jokingly asked Robinson who QPR were playing in the afternoon, and he said "Who ?"

I make a lot of this fact because it is central to the plot of this match. If ever a stereotype was proven accurate today was a case in point. The Columbians played some gorgeous football at times, and had Barnet chasing shadows for a lot of the game.

The playmaker was QPR was a lad called Robinson, who took to the field, protected against the piercing wind, in a red long sleeve shirt, under the famous hoops of QPR. He started out right, and all the play came through him. He then moved inside.

He scored a blinding goal from long range to open the scoring. Barnet pulled one back when Craig Clayton, in his trademark fashion, chased and won a seemingly lost cause. Selflessly, he squared the goal to Joel Ramos, who angled the ball home.

After Nally, had to be replaced by Ward before the break Barnet went a goal behind again, confusion in the Barnet end before Ward had fully settled in. This was just on the stroke of an extremely long first half that had to be curtailed due to a QPR player needing lengthy treatment after a clash of heads with Jake Manzi.

Ross Clark almost equalised but he was unable to leash a shot, constrained by an ankle injury he picked up in the warm up tangling with Clayton.

Needle was simmering in the first half. James Taylor was very late in a tackle, and Chris Richards had an altercation with a Rangers player. He admitted that it was because they were going straight past us otherwise, and it was something of a last resort.

Ryan Barney, proved he is a contender for the FCBFCSA number one shirt with a fine display. What would Barnet do without our two great goalkeepers, Barney, and Kirby ? Gerry Currell marshalling the team from defence was on top form, and a reassuring presence alongside Ollie Minton.

Soon after the break QPR went further ahead with what looked like the killer blow. However Barnet are made of stronger stuff that and forced their way back in contention.

A fine header from James Taylor made it 3-2, and a Tony Fenton penalty equalised. How we wish Fenton was taking the penalty at 3:01pm later that afternoon.

Unfortunatelely QPR got their noses back in front, and it was to stay that way for the remainder of the game.

This doesn't tell the full story. Barnet were becoming increasingly frustrated by the ballskills of the QPR players, and shook them with hard, firm but fair challenges. Think Rivaldo, Paul Al, and Brian Phelps, and you will understand the histrionics of some of the Rangers players.

With the ref blowing for all these free kicks, Barnet became even more het up, and the problems self perpetuated. The hard challenges, turned to fouls, and there was a sense of "We'll give them something to roll about for." And then QPR would retaliate.

Joel Ramos was also frustrated that he was through on a number of occasions, only for the ref to call things back for a free kick.

After one very nasty foul on Chris Richards, tempers boiled over

Soon after Ross Clark had to come off to be replaced by a returning Pat Nally.

When Joel was felled on the wing a mass brawl erupted. As the heavy challenges, fouls and arguments continued , the FCBFCSA manager deemed it prudent to call an early halt to proceedings and politely requested the referee blow for time.

The competition is a friendly competion, and does not benefit from medical care. It is a risk that somebody gets hurt if the game is not played in the right spirit and there was a threat of that today.

Despite, the fine football neither side covered themselves in glory today. There was too much silliness, too many fouls, too many histrionics, and too much arguing with the referee. Some of the QPR imports took to whistling on the pitch when calling for the ball, which is not sporting either.

Oh well, it takes two to tango.

On the positve side, Barnet did well to fight back from 3-1 to 3-3. There was real musketeer spirit, (all for one, and one for all) in the face of adversity. We dusted off the cobwebs, and only lost by the odd goal. Hopefully , this will galvanise the side, like the Millwall game did last season, for 2008.

Star performers for the Bees were Barney, Currell, and best of all Jake Manzi, for his tireless work, and composure. Craig Clayton had one of his best games in a Barnet shirt, even if he didn't trouble the scorers.