It was in our first Football League season that we played them there and drew 0-0 but they found themselves relegated to where we had come from at the end of that season. Ironically when ourselves and Cambridge Utd found ourselves to be non league once more it was Barnet that became one of the clubs that replaced us when they won the Conference title and so returned back to the Football League (Hereford were the other club).
They lasted from that season, 2005 - 06, up until the end of last season when they found themselves relegated back once more following years of struggling to stay up.Their current manager, the legendary Dutchman Edgar Davids of Juventus, Milan, Ajax, Barcelona and Spurs became their player manager in the October of that fateful season but even with his charisma and contacts he failed to save them from relegation. Now, ironically, we won't get to see him tomorrow and our players be able to pit their wits against him due to a red card he received against Wrexham a few weeks ago when he elbowed David Artell in the face.
In their first season back they're not doing too badly and at this moment in time they sit six places behind us in eighth place. If they were to stop drawing so many games they'd be higher up.
Their last league win came at Hereford two weeks ago and last Saturday they were putting paid to plucky Concord Rangers FA Cup hopes in a solid 3-0 victory that gave them a great tie at Preston in the next round.
Apart from being without Davids they'll also be without the services of striker Jake Hyde (ankle) and midfielders Luke Gambin (knee) and Curtis Weston (leg). They bought in the former West Ham, Crystal Palace and Plymouth veteran Carl Fletcher recently as cover.
We had a few possible injuries following those terrible Cup games against Bradford PA over the past few days. Thankfully we turned out to be the unlikely winners after being given the run around by BPA and will now face Sutton Utd in the next round.
Jack Byrne, Anthony Malbon and Amari Morgan-Smith all picked up minor injuries in the second game while in the first Nathan Blissett came off injured and failed to make the bench on Tuesday. Michael Gash hasn't played since his cameo against Lincoln two weeks ago after aggravating his hamstring injury in that game but he, along with the others, is expected to be ok to play at the Hive tomorrow.
Chey Dunkley still remains sidelined although he can't be far off returning soon. The one bit of good news though was the return of Mickey Demetriou (above right) at half time on Tuesday after being passed as fully fit following his broken wrist.
We now need to put the poor Cup performances behind us, even though we eventually got through them, and return to the style of football that has seen us gain second place in the table. To do that at Barnet is not quite the ideal way of doing it be do it we must.
Photo © KHFC
Teams:
Harriers from:
Lewis, N Vaughan, L Vaughan, Grimes, Dunkley, Demetriou, Gowling, Tolley, Storer, Fowler, Jackman, Lolley, Angus, Dance, J Byrne, M Johnson, Malbon, Morgan-Smith, Gittings, Gash, Blissett.
Barnet from:
Jupp, Stack, Yiadom, E Johnson, Acheampong, Saville, Marsh-Brown, M Byrne, Crawford, Abdulla, Cadogan, Mengerink, Casabella, Villa, Vilhete, Allen, Nurse, Stephens, Brown, López, Fletcher.
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