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Blue tinted optimist⭐🦐
JEKYLL AND HYDE AT BARNET FAIR
Victorian accounts of Barnet Fair deem it to be a "disgrace to civilisation". 90% of attendees came to trade “Horses, Donkeys or Mules” but there were other sideshows, not least the man who ate live rats “as though they were apples”. In such times freakshows at these fairs were common, but surely no-one attending in even those times would have seen a real life Jekyll and Hyde. However, Southend fans were treated to exactly that sort of performance at Underhill in the FA Cup first round today.
These days Barnet is far from a disgrace to civilisation as I found their fans and stewards perfectly friendly. Directions and advice were offered regarding parking, and even a “Don’t play too well” plea was offered on one occasion. The stadium (and I use the word in the loosest possible sense) however is a different story. Quite the worst ground I have visited, and for those who have also never been the famous slope must be about 4 feet from one end to another. The grass is almost as long.
These games are, of course, potential banana skins for the bigger teams, and bear in mind that as league one leaders we were technically the strongest side in the round. Barnet had given Manchester Utd a run for their money in the Carling Cup and surely would be chomping at the bit to give us a bloody nose. With them kicking down the slope in the first half I was thinking we would be under the cosh for the first 15 minutes or so and wouldn’t it be good for us to grab an early goal. Fortunately Freddy and the Goat were of a similar opinion as it took only 73 seconds for them to combine and a now trademark run and shot from Eastwood was deflected past a wrong-footed Flitney. 1-0 Blues.
For the remainder of the half Barnet grew in stature and Southend struggled to cope. The slope played a huge part but basic football skills, like passing to a team mate, controlling the ball or even heading seemed way beyond Southend. On 20 minutes the lively Norville beat the offside trap and raced clear, but his shot was well saved by Bart with his feet. Having looked sound and assured early on, Bart came for a deep cross on 30 minutes that he had no right to come for and he failed to get near the ball. The Barnet striker beat him in the air and headed towards an empty net but the ball trickled wide.
It took until injury time before Southend put together another move of note which ended with Maher not just shooting wide but actually putting the ball out for a throw in. A woeful 45 minutes football and the worst Blues half I have witnessed for several years. Barnet in truth were far the better side and deserved an equaliser. Numerous chances were created but for some reason either the Barnet players declined the shooting opportunity or their finishing was very poor. 3-1 to them at half time would not have been flattering.
At half time I was personally entertained by watching a Barnet substitute (with an Afro hairstyle) warm up. He tried to play a cross field ball to a team mate and was about 30 yards off course. He then had 3 attempts to put the ball into an empty net from the edge of the box. Two of them ended up nearer the corner flag and the third cleared the terrace behind the goal. Hilarious.
The second half started even more explosively and at last we had some fireworks. Campbell-Ryce at last learnt how to pass the ball and his sublime cross was met perfectly by Goater who volleyed goalwards from 8 yards out. Somehow, Barnet Man-of-the Match Flitney made a superb save. The ball was cleared and Barnet broke down the right. An inch perfect cross was met by the previously impressive Norville who sidefooted over from 10 yards out.
Southend then created chance after chance. Flitney played a blinder as he denied Freddy and Goater twice each (all superb saves) and Barrett. Blues had the ball in the net again after a scramble when Guttridge fired in, Flitney deflected the ball onto the bar and Goater fed Freddy to tap in but it was disallowed for offside.
Barnet also had their moments in a pulsating second half. Bart made a great diving save to parry a powerful drive, and again looked commanding and assured before inexplicably dropping a cross under no pressure which was scrambled to safety. They also had a goal ruled out for offside. In the dying moments however it was Blues who dominated and but for some amazing offside calls by the linesman would have made the game safe. Still, 2nd round here we come. Personally I’d like to avoid Col******r, Orient and Grays but otherwise who cares?
Ratings:
Griemink – 6. Sound on occasions, two good saves but also two errors which on another day could have cost us dear. Still, another clean sheet.
Hunt – 7 – One of the more steady defenders and had an excellent second half.
Barrett – 6 – Usual commitment but got caught out a couple of times and struggled in the air
Edwards – 7 – Couldn’t cope with Norville in the first half but dominated him in the second half
Wilson – 6 – Some poor distribution – although in fairness he was given absolutely no assistanc by Cole.
Campbell –Ryce – 6 – For all his trickery and promise, he has yet to ignite the touch paper. In the first half he went on a couple of good runs that had no end product and looked much better in the second period when he decided to actually pass the ball.
Maher – 6 – Totally hustled out of it in the first half but did improve later on.
Guttridge – 7 – Got stuck in against physically bigger opponents and was unlucky not to score
Cole – 4 – Totally uninterested and the poorest performance I have seen from him. Is he fit? The one good thing he did was to sell the defender a sublime dummy and race clear, but the Barnet man caught him up very quickly and thwarted the chance
Goater – 6 – Some decent flicks and linked up well with Freddy, especially in the second half. Seemed reluctant to shoot for some reason.
Eastwood – 8 – MOM. Our only consistent player. They were scared witless of him all afternoon.
Subs
Lawson – 6 – Hardly touched the ball.
Ref – Mr P Armstrong – 5. Fussy and whistle happy. Got no help from an appalling linesman.
Victorian accounts of Barnet Fair deem it to be a "disgrace to civilisation". 90% of attendees came to trade “Horses, Donkeys or Mules” but there were other sideshows, not least the man who ate live rats “as though they were apples”. In such times freakshows at these fairs were common, but surely no-one attending in even those times would have seen a real life Jekyll and Hyde. However, Southend fans were treated to exactly that sort of performance at Underhill in the FA Cup first round today.
These days Barnet is far from a disgrace to civilisation as I found their fans and stewards perfectly friendly. Directions and advice were offered regarding parking, and even a “Don’t play too well” plea was offered on one occasion. The stadium (and I use the word in the loosest possible sense) however is a different story. Quite the worst ground I have visited, and for those who have also never been the famous slope must be about 4 feet from one end to another. The grass is almost as long.
These games are, of course, potential banana skins for the bigger teams, and bear in mind that as league one leaders we were technically the strongest side in the round. Barnet had given Manchester Utd a run for their money in the Carling Cup and surely would be chomping at the bit to give us a bloody nose. With them kicking down the slope in the first half I was thinking we would be under the cosh for the first 15 minutes or so and wouldn’t it be good for us to grab an early goal. Fortunately Freddy and the Goat were of a similar opinion as it took only 73 seconds for them to combine and a now trademark run and shot from Eastwood was deflected past a wrong-footed Flitney. 1-0 Blues.
For the remainder of the half Barnet grew in stature and Southend struggled to cope. The slope played a huge part but basic football skills, like passing to a team mate, controlling the ball or even heading seemed way beyond Southend. On 20 minutes the lively Norville beat the offside trap and raced clear, but his shot was well saved by Bart with his feet. Having looked sound and assured early on, Bart came for a deep cross on 30 minutes that he had no right to come for and he failed to get near the ball. The Barnet striker beat him in the air and headed towards an empty net but the ball trickled wide.
It took until injury time before Southend put together another move of note which ended with Maher not just shooting wide but actually putting the ball out for a throw in. A woeful 45 minutes football and the worst Blues half I have witnessed for several years. Barnet in truth were far the better side and deserved an equaliser. Numerous chances were created but for some reason either the Barnet players declined the shooting opportunity or their finishing was very poor. 3-1 to them at half time would not have been flattering.
At half time I was personally entertained by watching a Barnet substitute (with an Afro hairstyle) warm up. He tried to play a cross field ball to a team mate and was about 30 yards off course. He then had 3 attempts to put the ball into an empty net from the edge of the box. Two of them ended up nearer the corner flag and the third cleared the terrace behind the goal. Hilarious.
The second half started even more explosively and at last we had some fireworks. Campbell-Ryce at last learnt how to pass the ball and his sublime cross was met perfectly by Goater who volleyed goalwards from 8 yards out. Somehow, Barnet Man-of-the Match Flitney made a superb save. The ball was cleared and Barnet broke down the right. An inch perfect cross was met by the previously impressive Norville who sidefooted over from 10 yards out.
Southend then created chance after chance. Flitney played a blinder as he denied Freddy and Goater twice each (all superb saves) and Barrett. Blues had the ball in the net again after a scramble when Guttridge fired in, Flitney deflected the ball onto the bar and Goater fed Freddy to tap in but it was disallowed for offside.
Barnet also had their moments in a pulsating second half. Bart made a great diving save to parry a powerful drive, and again looked commanding and assured before inexplicably dropping a cross under no pressure which was scrambled to safety. They also had a goal ruled out for offside. In the dying moments however it was Blues who dominated and but for some amazing offside calls by the linesman would have made the game safe. Still, 2nd round here we come. Personally I’d like to avoid Col******r, Orient and Grays but otherwise who cares?
Ratings:
Griemink – 6. Sound on occasions, two good saves but also two errors which on another day could have cost us dear. Still, another clean sheet.
Hunt – 7 – One of the more steady defenders and had an excellent second half.
Barrett – 6 – Usual commitment but got caught out a couple of times and struggled in the air
Edwards – 7 – Couldn’t cope with Norville in the first half but dominated him in the second half
Wilson – 6 – Some poor distribution – although in fairness he was given absolutely no assistanc by Cole.
Campbell –Ryce – 6 – For all his trickery and promise, he has yet to ignite the touch paper. In the first half he went on a couple of good runs that had no end product and looked much better in the second period when he decided to actually pass the ball.
Maher – 6 – Totally hustled out of it in the first half but did improve later on.
Guttridge – 7 – Got stuck in against physically bigger opponents and was unlucky not to score
Cole – 4 – Totally uninterested and the poorest performance I have seen from him. Is he fit? The one good thing he did was to sell the defender a sublime dummy and race clear, but the Barnet man caught him up very quickly and thwarted the chance
Goater – 6 – Some decent flicks and linked up well with Freddy, especially in the second half. Seemed reluctant to shoot for some reason.
Eastwood – 8 – MOM. Our only consistent player. They were scared witless of him all afternoon.
Subs
Lawson – 6 – Hardly touched the ball.
Ref – Mr P Armstrong – 5. Fussy and whistle happy. Got no help from an appalling linesman.
