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After the shambolic performance at Barrow in front of a credible 150+ of the long-suffering U’s faithful, who deserved so much more for their efforts getting to and from our longest away trip of the season, Cambridge on Tuesday night was a much needed shot in the arm. Leaving aside the Cambridge United ticketing fiasco, we were everything we weren’t at Barrow and then some, and roared on magnificently by our sell-out allocation of just over 1,000 from the pre-match warm-ups through to the post-match celebrations.
Okay, it was only a point, and we probably deserved more, but against a Cambridge side with the best home form in the league, it was a very good point…and from the most unlikeliest of sources too, Jack Payne’s head.
The added bonus is we seem, fingers crossed, to have got through a game without adding significantly to our sick parade, Edwards apart who is apparently having knocks to his shoulder and ankle assessed. As has been mentioned recently, and reported today in a Gazette Danny Cowley interview, Flanagan should be back available, Iandolo, Anderson and Mbick continue to improve and should be back soon, and Gape and Baldwin are both fit and available.
Though they only returned to the football league this season, Barnet aren’t quite the surprise package some might have thought. Most pundits were saying back in summer that they’d probably do quite well under Dean Brennan, backed by chairman Anthony Kleanthous’s wealth, and they currently sit one place and one point higher than the U’s. Brennan is currently serving a recently imposed nine-match touchline suspension for verbally abusing a female match official during their defeat to Shrewsbury way back in September, but I doubt that’ll be a significant factor in their bid for the play-offs. Incidentally, whilst I have no problem with the FA’s punishment for Brennan, to take no action over Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s odious ‘colonised’ comments is shameful.
A few names spring to mind in the “played for both” group, the most notable of which has to be John Akinde – borderline legend status at both clubs I would suggest. There is of course Richard Brindley, who turned down a new contract at the U’s and went to Barnet instead, and the appropriately named Dave Barnett, who started his professional career at Colchester United. Barnett was red-carded on his debut for the U’s, sent off a second time in only his seventh game, and was eventually binned by Jock Wallace after he witnessed an off the ball incident during a reserve team game – can’t think why the U’s faithful called him “Psycho”. He eventually signed for Barry Fry’s Barnet in 1992, where he enjoyed the longest spell of his football career.
As to our line-up for Saturday, unless Edwards’ knock(s) keep him out, I can’t see any good reason to change the line-up. Flanagan to return to the bench, and probably get a run-out as well at some point. If Edwards isn’t fit, I would expect Akachukwu to start on the left, and perhaps Gape to return to the bench. I fear it’s still too soon for Anderson, Iandolo and Mbick.
Substitutes: Smith Flanagan Back Barbrook Goodwin Akachukwu Terry
Like the U’s, Barnet’s form of late has slipped a bit, including defeat at home to Swindon on Tuesday night. They’re a good side though, and I’d expect a similarly tough competitive game as we had at the Abbey. They are a reasonably well disciplined side too, so hopefully we won’t have to worry about being kicked around by some League 2 cloggers. I was at the Hive earlier this season to see Barnet snatch a 90th minute equaliser (undeserved equaliser wearing my U’s tinted glasses), so it would be nice to see some payback for that.
We still have 15 cup finals to play, and plenty of points for the taking, so let’s continue the great result on Tuesday with a resounding 3-1 win for the U’s. Samson to get us off the mark, with Read adding to the tally. Goodwin off the bench to wrap things up near the end. Including a few hundred from Barnet, after Tuesday's performance I expect we'll be above the 5,000 mark at the Jobserve.
It’ll be a breezy relatively mild day tomorrow, the temperature around 11-12 degrees, the wind coming from the south west, and perhaps some light rain showers about, but more likely not expected until the evening.
Up the U’s!
Edit: I can confirm rumours of Dean Brennans’ demise have been greatly exaggerated - Dean, not Dead.
By the help of AI, here are some more who have played for both teams.
Billy Clifford: A midfielder who played for Colchester and signed for Barnet in 2024. Matthew Briggs: A defender who played for Colchester (2015–2017) and Barnet (2018). Mark Cousins: A goalkeeper who made over 50 appearances for Colchester before joining Barnet in 2018. Medy Elito: A midfielder who joined Barnet on a two-year deal in 2018. Dillon Barnes: A goalkeeper who started his career at Barnet, later played for Colchester, and also represented the Jamaica national team. Luke Gambin: A midfielder who played for Barnet (2012-2017) and Colchester (2019-2021). Myles Kenlock: A defender who played for Colchester on loan in 2022 and joined Barnet in 2024.
mfb
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From Boudica to Barnet: Barbarians at the gate on 19:27 - Feb 20 with 1291 views
From Boudica to Barnet: Barbarians at the gate on 18:32 - Feb 20 by mfb_cufc
Nice one wessex.
By the help of AI, here are some more who have played for both teams.
Billy Clifford: A midfielder who played for Colchester and signed for Barnet in 2024. Matthew Briggs: A defender who played for Colchester (2015–2017) and Barnet (2018). Mark Cousins: A goalkeeper who made over 50 appearances for Colchester before joining Barnet in 2018. Medy Elito: A midfielder who joined Barnet on a two-year deal in 2018. Dillon Barnes: A goalkeeper who started his career at Barnet, later played for Colchester, and also represented the Jamaica national team. Luke Gambin: A midfielder who played for Barnet (2012-2017) and Colchester (2019-2021). Myles Kenlock: A defender who played for Colchester on loan in 2022 and joined Barnet in 2024.
Nice - quite a few notable names in there I overlooked. I didn't include a memorable match, but if I had it would have been our first-leg play-off game at Underhill. A game which engraved Guy Branston's name forever in the annals of Col U history as the best red card ever.
Made a similar number of appearances for both clubs in multiple spells - 169 appearances and 51 goals for us, 143 and 37 for them. We bought him from Barnet (spending £15k of the Lua Lua millions I believe). He was born in Barnet too.
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From Boudica to Barnet: Barbarians at the gate on 23:36 - Feb 20 with 1161 views
From Boudica to Barnet: Barbarians at the gate on 22:23 - Feb 20 by Daniel
Have we all forgotten about Scott McGleish!?
Made a similar number of appearances for both clubs in multiple spells - 169 appearances and 51 goals for us, 143 and 37 for them. We bought him from Barnet (spending £15k of the Lua Lua millions I believe). He was born in Barnet too.
Funnily enough, I was thinking about Scott McGleish when I posted this preview. Of (relatively) similar stature to Payne, but he had spring-powered legs and scored plenty of headers for the U's, not least in our Auto Windscreens (or whatever it was then) victory at Northampton.
In the early kick-offs, Crewe win 2-1 at stuttering Swindon, who've lost two of the last three, and Fleetwood leave it late with two goals right at the death to defeat Barrow 3-2. Showing us how it should be done I guess?
Fantastic strike from Read, rare mistake from Araujo, and then almost squeezed in by Bishop to restore our lead. On balance, 1-1 probably reflects the game so far, but we're not really at our best. Need to step it up second half.
Sublime performance from the midfield trio. Running off the ball exceptional when game got open in the second half and pace unnerved them subsequently. Poor ref missed a nailed on penalty, so found one later in the second half.
From what was a very tight and scrappy game first half, although we did create three decent chances, it was very open in the second half and we were completely dominant and could've scored six or seven and had more than the one penalty given. I think Barnet made a change at half time that worked against them and for us.
Poor mistake by Araujo for their goal but he showed great attitude to come back and be excellent second half. Thought Akachukwu looked a really good player and showed that he was a level or two above at times. The whole team performed well and it was probably the best performances I've seen from Williams and Goodwin, despite the latter missing two good chances. Also three real quality passes for the non-penalty goals.
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