United are back on their travels on Saturday, as they travel to the capital to take on Barnet at The Hive.
Having made it all the way through to the National League Play-Off semi-finals last time out under former manager Darren Currie, this season has been a different matter entirely for The Bees. However, as United manager Gary Johnson is always eager to stress, this division is unlike any other – with any opponent capable of coming out on top on their day.
Who’s The Boss?
Former Kidderminster and Solhull manager Tim Flowers arrived at Barnet last month, following the briefest of spells at National League new boys Macclesfield Town. Appointed as as the new man in charge at Moss Rose in August 2020 following Town’s EFL relegation, he was subsequently seeking new employment only a few weeks later, as the club were wound-up. Flowers’ new challenge is to steer The Bees away from relegation danger, with the club having already parted company with previous bosses Currie and Peter Beadle during a traumatic last six months.
As a player, Tim represented the likes of Wolves and Southampton before a memorable spell at Blackburn Rovers, where he established himself as an England international and won the FA Premier League, as well as becoming Britain’s most expensive goalkeeper.
How have they been doing?
After such a promising previous campaign under previous manager, Barnet have endured the ultimate in footballing hangovers, with their 3-1 defeat away to fellow strugglers Dover on Tuesday night leaving them bottom of the pile, with only 2 wins and 9 points from their opening 16 matches.
Six defeats on the bounce, and without a victory since the home victory against Weymouth on October 13th, the club now has a real fight on its hands to maintain their fifth-tier status, and therefore Johnson’s side must guard themselves against an overdue response from the hosts tomorrow.
Player to watch
Former Coventry and Swansea City striker Courtney Baker-Richardson arrived at Barnet on Thursday, having joined on loan from League Two side Barrow. Baker-Richardson, who had a brief trial spell at Plainmoor during the summer of 2014, eventually secured a dream move to then-Premier League side Swansea following a prolific spell with non-league Leamington in 2017.
Now tasked with pepping-up an attack that has managed just 13 goals so far – the second-lowest in the National League – his physical presence, combined with a renowned work-rate, is sure to keep United’s backline busy on Saturday.
Played For Both
Former Tottenham Hotspur starlet Shaquille Coulthirst represented both of tomorrow’s teams earlier in his career, prior to a move to divisional rivals Boreham Wood last summer. Having made his Spurs debut in the 4-1 Europa League win over Anzhi Makhachkala, those lofty surroundings would have seemed a distant destination as he arrived at Plainmoor to join a side desperately fighting for Football League survival.
Although 2 goals in 6 games weren’t quite enough to save The Gulls from relegation, his impressive performances led to plenty of other temporary opportunities prior to making a permanent move to Peterborough in 2016. Having failed to settle at London Road, a move to The Hive heralded the best spell of the striker’s career, netting 23 goals in 81 league games before departing for pastures new last September.
Previous Encounter
Mention 3-2 victories at Barnet to a member of the Yellow Army, and most will recount the legendary do-or-die battle at Underhill back in 2001. However just over 13 year later, Chris Hargreaves’ class of 2014/15 also emerged victorious by the same scoreline, in front of the BT Sport cameras at The Hive.
A Louis Briscoe strike, followed by goalkeeper Graham Stack’s own-goal, gave United an imposing 2-0 lead at the break, before Luisma’s early second-half reply brought the home side back into it. Briscoe was on hand to net his second of the game barely 60 seconds later though, with that goal ultimately proving vital, despite Bernard Mensah’s effort four minutes later setting up a somewhat tense finale.
Livestream access for this fixture can be purchased for £12.50 via Barnet’s website here.
Torquay United will also be providing commentary of the encounter via Official TUFC Radio here.
In association with LV BET
Vanarama National League | Barnet v Torquay United | 29/01/21 3pm KO