The One Where Everything Came Together

Burton Albion 3 Grimsby Town 0

Fizzy Pop League Two

And so it comes to this. At a stage of the season where most clubs have nothing to play for, I find myself caught between two stools. On the one hand, Tranmere need a win and some favourable results to stay in League One. On the other Barnet need to at least match Grimsby's result to stay in League Two. Oh for a season of midtable meh-ness.

So, there were offers of tickets to the Stockport Tranmere game (3000 travelled). But I knew I'd be worried about the Barnet game. And there were invites to the Barnet Rochdale game. But I knew I'd be worried about the Tranmere game. So instead, and fed by last week's festival of thuggery at Grimsby, I plumped for the relative anonymity of the Burton end, and hoped.

As it happens, I needn't have fretted too greatly. Grimsby were a shadow of the team that had stood toe to toe with Barnet last week. Yes, they were unlucky to come up against a 46 year old keeper who had one of the best games of his life I suspect. But they still lacked any great commitment to the cause.

As ever, there was an ex-player involved, this time in the form of Greg Pearson. He'd been at Barnet on loan from West Ham a few years back, and was supposed to be shit hot. He wasn't. Which is why he now plays for Burton. He scored a screamer, made another, and generally did for Grimsby in no uncertain terms.

Elsewhere, Tranmere were winning, Dirty Leeds were, temporarily losing, and down to ten men, and seemed like the stars were aligning. Alas, Dirty Leeds sorted themselves out, as we know. But this was a minor blot on an otherwise lovely day.

Turns out internet cohort Pickwell was in attendance too. Abut 15 yards away by our calculations. If only we had communications devices eh? Anyway, he is far more fastidious in his reporting. And he probably hasn't mislaid his camera lead either. So I recommend reading his blog at some point. And if you are of such a mind, there will be Barnet reports here, there is already one here and Tranmere reports here.

I think we're done here.

The One Where Reality Came Crashing Down

Grimsby Town 2 Barnet 0

Fizzy Pop League 2

When "they" speak of relegation six-pointers, this is what they mean. Grimsby have been on good terms with the relegation positions all season. Barnet were top of the table in mid September, but have subsequently plummeted faster than Gordon Brown's spirit following bigot-gate (satire. Can't buy material like this). To the point where Barnet are now the only team that can stop Grimsby joining Darlington in the Blue Square Conference next season, with trips to Barrow and Histon to look forward to.

Of course, Barnet are no stranger to crunch games like this. A few years back, there was a game against Torquay on the last day of the season that would send the loser down. They lost that one too.

Desperate times at Underhill lead to the midweek sacking of manager Ian Hendon, with Conference-winning and England C-managing Paul Fairclough being brought in from upstairs for the final two games. Speaking with fans before, and during, the game, his impact has been immediate, in terms of attitude and performance if not, ultimately, results. Unfortunately, that's the one that really matters.

Both teams started out nervously, fully aware of what was at stake. A point would do Barnet. For Grimsby, a win would take things down to the last game of the season. Occasional forays into rival territory were easily repelled by both defences. Barnet's much hyped wingers failed to deliver, whilst Grimsby's more mobile front line were crying out for service. Backed by a well-lubricated and vociferous travelling support (the volume of which I hadn't experienced with Barnet for some time), Barnet got to half time on a clean sheet; hope was growing. 45 minutes, and the job was done. We may not get out of Blundell Park alive, but it would be a small price to pay.

Second half started with more confidence from both teams. Barnet knew they were passing the ball well, and had found faith in themselves. Grimsby knew they hadn't nothing to lose, and finally started to play like they understood that. Barnet's insistence on passing the ball out from the back may have caused a few jitters in the crowd, but it had clearly knocked Grimsby off their stride in the first half. One team talk later, and they understood they had to press the defensive line more, and force the errors.

The errors came. They are covered in more depth here. And there will be a more impassioned and informed view of proceedings here no doubt. For me, though, I saw a team that could play football, whose destiny is still in it's own hands. Fairclough has a week to install belief into a borw beaten squad. If the Underhill masses back them. If Rochdale are content to put their feet up. A win is all that is needed. not even that. Just match whatever Grimsby achieve at Burton. It is possible. It's more than possible. It just won't necessarily be fun.

Barnet, then.