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Archived News from April 2006

STAGSNET`S STATISTICAL PREVIEW
16th April 2006 14:02


When Barnet returned to the Football League as Conf champions after an absence of four seasons, they created history inasmuch as the Bees were the first side to gain promotion from the Conference for the second time. But if things go wrong in the more tense than ever fight to avoid the dreaded drop, the Bees could create more than unwanted chapter in the FL history, being the first side to be promoted to and relegated from the League twice, also could be the first side to be relegated from the League after gaining promotion. These issues will definitely go down to the wire, alas the last day of the season, surely on record number of points.

And the first Barnet promotion was gained way back in 1990-91 – and their very first league game was lost to the rare scoreline of 4-7 at home to Crewe Alexandra. But the Bees' second league game and the first-ever away one was a pairing with the Stags, who just had been relegated to the then Division 4 in its last season after spending five campaigns at the third level. And Barnet notched their first-ever league win to a 2-1 scoreline after goals by Bull and Carter, their two top-scorers in the 1991-92 season, while Charles converted a penalty for the Stags in front of 2669. But after that fixture, the Stags were unbeaten in 12 games while Barnet figured in promotion and playoff spots all season. Already then, the Barnet games were high-scoring ones, ending the season with 81 for, 61 against minus two expunged games against Aldershot. (The Stags also had two expunged fixtures against the Shots as well). The latest – before this season - Mansfield v Barnet league fixture was played at Field Mill on February 27, 2001, in front of a paltry 1623 crowd, who saw the Stags win 4-1 (Stags goals Bradley 2, Greenacre and Williams, Barnet goal Strevens) – and no other league game at the Mill since then has attracted fewer spectators, although some LDV Vans Trophy ones have – and the most recent example of this was the LDV Vans game against Hereford a few days before Barnet visited Field Mill this season. Then, Barnet were in a bad patch that has mainly contributed to their current league position. And on October 22, 2005, the Bees were heavily stung to a 4-0 scoreline, then the Stags' second consecutive 4-0 home victory. An early penalty, converted by Barker, who also finished the scoring, started the rout. In the second half, goals by Brown and Rundle definitely put the fixture beyond doubt, and the scoreline could have been even higher. Due to that victory, the Stags left the bottom two in the League and have since then climbed into mid-table.

The latest league game at Barnet also saw loads of goals as the sides shared six of them in front of 1732 at Underhill on August 19, 2000, no wonder of that as most Stags visits to Underhill have been drawn. Stags scorers then were Blake, Clarke and Greenacre while the Barnet hit-men were Arber, Stockley and McGleish, the latter now at Northampton. Barnet, who midway that 2000-01 season stuffed Blackpool 7-0 at home, eventually were relegated after losing their last home game 2-3 against Torquay, but lost their last fifteen (!) away games that season, yet scored 67 times, only a few less than champions Brighton.

But the biggest Stags win was a 5-0 achieved on a Friday, November 20, 1998 – and it also was the first game played with a yellow ball. The Stags scorers then in front of 2965 were Peacock (3), Ford and Christie – and the 3-0 on December 31, 1994, scorers Donaldson 2, Ireland attended by 2891 was the last of a four-match winning streak in which the Stags netted on nineteen occasions! Thr Stags have only lost once at Barnet, in their first visit to Underhill in the 1991-92 season, but have also only won once. That win was secured late on in the 1997-98 season when Whitehall (who else that term) converted from the spot on April 25, 1998.

In Barnet's comeback season, the Bees started brightly with three wins in their first four games, but have since then faltered badly, although the lastest home fixture against Notts County was won 2-1 thanks to a brace of penalties, while the Stags in their latest away game secured a point in the last minute at Lincoln due to an Allan Russell free-kick. Easter Saturday was no good for either side, the Stags losing 1-0 at home to Orient thanks to a Lockwood spot-kick, while Barnet conceded twice early on in their first-ever league game at Oxford. But just one more league victory should see the Stags definitely safe, currently seven points above Rushden & Diamonds in the first relegation spot, Barnet just about above, but with a vastly superior goal difference in favour of the Stags.

Played for both sides: Keith Alexander, Gary Brazil, Jamie Campbell, John Doolan, John Fairbrother, Warren Hackett, Lee Howarth, Pat Kruse, Alan Walker, Steve Whitworth.

Stats file:

Home: P 9, W 5, D 1, L 3, GF 20, GA 7
Away: P 8, W 1, D 6, L 1, GF 7, GA 8

Season Home Date Away Date

1991-92 1-2 1991-08-24 0-2 1991-12-21 Division 4 (old)
1994-95 3-0 1994-12-31 2-2 1995-04-08 Division 3
1995-96 2-1 1996-03-02 0-0 1995-12-26 Division 3
1996-97 0-0 1996-09-10 1-1 1996-12-26 Division 3
1997-98 1-2 1997-10-25 1-0 1998-04-25 Division 3
1998-99 5-0 1998-11-20 0-0 1999-04-17 Division 3
1999-2000 0-1 2000-04-01 0-0 1999-12-18 Division 3
2000-01 4-1 2001-02-27 3-3 2000-08-19 Division 3
2005-06 4-0 2005-10-22 (at Field Mill) League Two

Details from various sources, i.e. the history CD, soccernet, the centenary book

Svante Bernhard aka Sweden Stag (pictured, above right)

 

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