Barnet 1 Gillingham 3

Match 17/12/970 - Saturday, 8 September 2012 - League Two

Barnet (1) 1 Saville 22
Gillingham (3) 3 Payne 10, Kedwell 11, Burton 38
Att. 2,835

Entrance: £13 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 159/903

Match Report

Very few visiting supporters will be bidding a fond farewell to Underhill as Barnet depart their home of 105 years and move boroughs to Harrow and a development on their training facility at The Hive in Edgware at the end of this season. In a very interesting Q & A in the matchday programme, chairman Tony Kleanthous spoke candidly of the borough council’s intransigence, a ground that is an embarrassment and his regret that the shifting of the club from the borough of Barnet is of a consequence of Saracens’ relocation in the borough.

The sloping pitch, the narrow terracing which the chairman described as “nothing more than a concrete step with a tin roof” and using another of the Mr Kleanthous’ descriptions “a dilapidated facility” does nothing to appeal to visiting supporters. In truth, whilst home is where the heart is, there has to be more positives than negatives even for the home support in a move away. But there is the affinity to your home town, let’s not forget the uproar that came with the possibility of Gillingham’s move to Gravesham and even to another borough within the Medway Towns, and Barnet’s supporters anxieties lay with the logistics of getting to Edgware and whether the club would forever retain the name of Barnet Football Club.

It does seem that the carrot of a multi-purpose venue and the lure of Premiership rugby at a redeveloped Barnet Copthall Stadium with Saracens were viewed more favourably than Barnet’s proposal for the same site, although this was approved by the Council’s planning committee but overturned by the Secretary of State.

Martin Allen continues to lay the ghosts of previous administrations with a comfortable away win at the bottom club. Despite wins at Underhill since Mark Stimson’s FA Cup defeat in 2007, memories of that gutless performance always rear their head as the turnstiles click in entry. The one thing that Gillingham have always managed to do at Underhill is click those turnstiles and once again more than a thousand packed out the concrete steps, 1,144 to be precise.

Gillingham took complete control of the game with two goals in a minute. Jack Payne opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a shot from outside of the area. The lead was quickly doubled when Charlie Allen stood up a cross to the near post for Danny Kedwell to head home from close range.

The visitors may have been dominant and their supporters enjoying the right to banter with their counterparts that the game was over but after 22 minutes the home side found a way back with a goal far too straightforward in its making. A corner was won, send the big guy up and head it in was the simplistic plan that was successful. Mark Byrne supplied the corner and Jack Saville the header.

In the 38th minute, Gillingham restored their two goal advantage with a headed goal from Deon Burton. A long throw by Charlie Lee was headed on at the near post and Burton back-headed the ball into the bottom corner, seemingly by his reaction, much to his own surprise. Television viewing of the goal later led me to believe that he had actually meant it.

The second half was a bit of a stalemate as both sides struggled in the intense heat, but Gillingham were never seriously in trouble of losing their advantage.

Old boys in the Barnet side were Curtis Weston and Barry Fuller and I found it disappointing that some of the visiting support found it necessary to abuse them, particularly in the case of Fuller.

So, unless a cup draw deems otherwise, we wave goodbye to Underhill leading the League Two table and with fonder memories than we might have had a couple of years ago.

Barnet 1 Gillingham 2

Match 35/10/853 - Tuesday, 23 November 2010 - League One

Barnet (1) 1 Gallen 31
Gillingham (0) 2 Whelpdale 59, Lee 65
Att. 2,519

Entrance: £16
Programme: £3
Mileage: 130/5,410

Match Report

Like most things in life certain tasks can be difficult in the first instance but once you’ve had a couple of attempts they become child’s play. So it is with Gillingham, winning away is now too damn easy! It was the London Bus analogy, nothing for 18 months and two wins in four days, this time victory over old boss Mark Stimson’s Barnet, in front of an away following that amounted to 1,206 in a crowd of just 2,519.

Stimson, magnanimous in defeat, called the support a fantastic fanbase and remarked that he was surprised at the lack of abuse that he took; he obviously suffers from selective hearing as some of it was pretty tasteless from where I was standing.

Another long-standing record came to an end as Gillingham came from behind to win an away match for the first time since January 2009 when they triumphed 3-1 at Port Vale after being a goal down at the break. On this occasion they ended the first half a goal down, but two quality strikes from on-loan Posh pair Chris Whelpdale and Charlie Lee turned the game on its head.

If the mass following where speaking the same language as myself they were eulogising over the difference these two have made to Gillingham in the last fortnight. Whelpdale looked the part in the defeat against Crewe but Lee, forced into a central defensive position following the sending-off of Callum Davies, didn’t make an immediate impression. But the two games following and in his rightful position, what a good player he looks and his goal, that turned out to be the winner, was quite sublime.

In an even first half that saw chances for both sides, it was a goal from the veteran Kevin Gallen that earned the Bees a half time lead. On the half-hour Kevin Maher was robbed in midfield by a robust challenge from Gallen that left the midfielder claiming a foul, the striker strode on and his pass found Mark Marshall. The winger’s shot was parried by Alan Julian but the rebound was bundled home by Gallen who had continued his run. With both goalkeeper and scorer on the floor the ball seemed to strike knees, arms and shoulders of both or either player before trickling over the goal line.

It was such a scruffy goal in stark contrast to a beautiful flowing move ten minutes earlier from the visitors that involved Lee, Whelpdale and Akinfenwa and culminated with Lee shooting into the side netting. As the net rippled all the Gillingham support along the length of the pitch celebrated the goal that never was, which was a shame because it would have been a classic.

Gillingham scored twice in five minutes around the hour mark slightly against the run of play. Marshall and former Gillingham triallist Jordan Parkes brought a good saves out of Julian before Akinfenwa, leading the line exceptionally well, laid off a pass to Whelpdale who smashed home a shot from the edge of the box. This time it was the Gillingham following behind the goal that were optically deceived as they were slow to react as the ball came back out of the net as quickly as it went in.

Within five minutes Gillingham were in front. Charlie Lee ran at the Barnet defence from inside his own half, as they backed off his low shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner. This time nobody was fooled and the celebrations began.

Barnet pressed for an equaliser but it was Gillingham that came closest in the later stages. Cody McDonald, who had no luck on the night, forcing a decent save out of Jake Cole.

Two in a row, victory over Stimmo, but it was the size of the Gillingham support that turned this visit to Underhill into a virtual home match that will be the abiding memory.

Barnet 2 Gillingham 2

Match 31/08/715 - Saturday, 13th December 2008 - League Two

Barnet (0) 2 Leary 46, O'Flynn 70
Gillingham (0) 2 Barcham 68, Jackson 90
Att. 2,248

Entrance: £15
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 156/3,662

Match Report

Just over one year on from an FA Cup defeat at Underhill that was met with angry derision from their own supporters, Gillingham produced a far better performance but a just as disappointing result from this afternoon’s League Two encounter. Gillingham’s away form is such that no result can ever be taken as a given, but Barnet’s dreadful home record, just one win from nine home games, left the Gills in the unusual position of bookies favourites.

Ultimately it took a 93rd minute equaliser from Simeon Jackson to earn Gillingham a point from a game that they largely dominated, but so nearly lost.

High on confidence from their FA Cup victory at Stockport, Gillingham, and Adam Miller in particular tore into their opponents from the kick off. He surged deep into the opposing half but his pass was cut out, sadly when Barnet’s Michael Leary copied the move 45 minutes later his outcome was more successful.

Miller had set the tempo for the early stages of the first half. Andy Barcham was wreaking havoc down the left side, skinning his full back time and again. It could only be time before the visitors got their noses in front and from there go on to an easy victory. But it didn’t happen. Jackson had the ball in the net after 20 minutes but was ruled offside and five minutes before half time a inch perfect through ball from Miller saw him one-on-one with the keeper, but he failed to take the chance.

However, it was not all one-way traffic as Adomah missed with a close range header and long range shot that was deflected narrowly went wide.

Gillingham’s impressive away support, almost a thousand strong, were stunned within 12 seconds of the restart. Leary literally ran down the hill unchallenged, got to within 30 yards of the goal and let fly with a shot that had Simon Royce groping thin air.

A couple of chances came and went before Barcham, who had been quieter than in those first 20 minutes, collected in midfield and ran across the face of the goal, his first shot appeared to have been blocked with the hands of a Barnet defender but the ball broke to him and he drove home confidently.

The joy was short lived as Gillingham fell for the old sucker punch of a lack of concentration following their goal. A cross from the left was met by the unmarked John O’Flynn who headed in from close range. It was a terrible goal to concede.

As the clock ticked into injury time, the visitors fashioned an equaliser with the two substitutes instrumental in its making. Firstly Nicky Southall, on for Albert Jarrett, who for an hour was quite frankly awful, won a throw in with some determined play. Gary Richards threw it long, Mulligan (on for Bentley) nodded on and Jackson reacted quickly to turn it home from four yards. Cue a relieved celebration from team and support alike.

So a couple of points lost, or one gained, at a rain-soaked Underhill, that has housed Barnet for a over a 100 years and their relocation battle with the local council continues. This season has seen a minor ground improvement with a small temporary stand that housed 150 of the Gillingham support under a tarpaulin cover. The sloping pitch that had a lush look to it held a lot of water that had players splashing their way through the puddles.

Royce, King, Bentley and Southall are the only players that remain from the shameful FA Cup exit of last season and for them today’s cheers, albeit of relief, from the Gillingham support will erase some of the memories from that dark day.

Barnet 2 Gillingham 1

Match 29/07/646 - Saturday, 10th November 2007 - FA Cup 1st Round

Barnet (0) 2 Yakubu 61 Hatch 63
Gillingham (1) 1 Graham 28
Att. 2,843

Entrance: £15
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 152/2,528

Match Report

Gillingham crashed out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle with a woeful second half display at League Two Barnet. What is it about this side that can look half decent at Priestfield and turn into a spineless, gutless rabble as soon as they leave the confines of Medway.

Barnet, no great shakes themselves, simply wanted the game more than Gillingham. They cut short their half-time break, came out and rolled up the sleeves. Nothing more, but their endeavour was more than enough to roll over feeble opposition.

Let’s make excuses because that is the only way we can justify the events. Underhill is a crap ground, with a slope that makes it look like the game is being played on Blue Bell Hill. Barnet get small crowds so there is no big game atmosphere, blah, blah. There are no excuses, today was absolutely pathetic, and if Barnet go on to the third round and draw Manchester United (again), the players can only look themselves in the face and say we missed that opportunity because we had no stomach for a fight. If Mark Stimson thought he had less of a challenge with the two lucky draws so far attained, then today showed the true measure of the job.

Gillingham fans, hardly the most critical in the country, reacted to the players at the final whistle with a torrent of abuse that should not have to be directed at their own players, but these imitators deserved every expletive.

Underhill is this season celebrating 100 years of football and the ground looks as though it has seen little change in that time. Even the Football League label it an embarrassment. Plans are in hand to upgrade but at present they are finding the Town Hall a much tougher opponent than Gillingham Football Club.