Just Back on the Train.

Football eh? For 75 minutes it was in my view comfortably the worst performance of the season against a team that looked like they had already gone on their holidays. To put it simply today was irrefutable evidence that we cannot have a cohesive attacking presence with one up front. The first half was 49 minutes of misplaced, over hit passes, lack of movement and Taylor not having a team mate within 10 yards of him. Midfield were pretty anonymous and we lost Efete to what looked like a recurrence of his previous problem.
Hurst righted his tactical wrong with Abrahams joining Taylor up front for the second half but things got immeasurably worse when Waterfall inexplicably headed into his own net under little pressure and no Barnet player in the box.
Hurst has had loads of flak for his subs in both spells in charge both in terms of personnel and timing but today's introduction of Fox fits nicely into the master stroke category. Town got a grip on midfield and Smith reacted quickest five yards out for the first. Urged on by the support that had well and truly woken up it was just a question of whether Barnet's constant sh1thousery would give Town time for at least a draw. Waterfall struck for an equaliser and in the seven minutes added on at least two other chances went begging-Abrahams hits his shot a yard either side of the defender it struck and Town celebrate the second resurrection against Barnet this season.
That most fans were happy to get a point after all that speaks volumes about how tight it is for those play off spots. It shouldn't mask though that for a very long time we were very much second best. If as looks likely we make the Play Offs there isn't one of our prospective rivals who wouldn't take us to the cleaners on that first half performance.

What is it they say in martial arts? “You don’t win or lose you win or learn” well one of the learnings today feels like don’t start with 1 up front no McAtee available and leave the energy of Fox, skill of JMD and a player in Abrahams who’s scored in the last 2 in the bench.

Despite the late hurrah 2 points lost rather than a point win I feel. Just wondered if we could have gone on to win it if the “supporters” on the pitch hadn’t given Barnet a breather.

Despite some comments on other platforms the players tried hard but as Hurst has just admitted on RH the selection wasn’t right from the start.

We’re still in a good place and the unbeaten run continues.

Well done to all of those that travelled. Brilliant support, apart from the bloke who punched me in the back and told me to “f****g move” when I was stood in his way during the final few seconds.

UTM!

Quoted from barralad

Football eh? For 75 minutes it was in my view comfortably the worst performance of the season against a team that looked like they had already gone on their holidays. To put it simply today was irrefutable evidence that we cannot have a cohesive attacking presence with one up front. The first half was 49 minutes of misplaced, over hit passes, lack of movement and Taylor not having a team mate within 10 yards of him. Midfield were pretty anonymous and we lost Efete to what looked like a recurrence of his previous problem.
Hurst righted his tactical wrong with Abrahams joining Taylor up front for the second half but things got immeasurably worse when Waterfall inexplicably headed into his own net under little pressure and no Barnet player in the box.
Hurst has had loads of flak for his subs in both spells in charge both in terms of personnel and timing but today's introduction of Fox fits nicely into the master stroke category. Town got a grip on midfield and Smith reacted quickest five yards out for the first. Urged on by the support that had well and truly woken up it was just a question of whether Barnet's constant sh1thousery would give Town time for at least a draw. Waterfall struck for an equaliser and in the seven minutes added on at least two other chances went begging-Abrahams hits his shot a yard either side of the defender it struck and Town celebrate the second resurrection against Barnet this season.
That most fans were happy to get a point after all that speaks volumes about how tight it is for those play off spots. It shouldn't mask though that for a very long time we were very much second best. If as looks likely we make the Play Offs there isn't one of our prospective rivals who wouldn't take us to the cleaners on that first half performance.

Spot on summary mate. Subs made all the difference today. Hurst said after the game he tactically got it wrong but he won't have the luxury to get it wrong in the lottery if we get there. Ive seen Jones twice now and he looks well off the pace and plays like he's disinterested. The introduction of fox put us far more in control.

Can’t work out if I’m still fuming with the first 80 mins or delighted we managed to nick a point. Jones should not play again for us and Hoolhan is not a number 10. Would go with Harry and Fox in midfield for the next game.

Sometimes, teams that have nothing to play for are quite dangerous to play against at the end of the season as there is no competitive pressure on them.  Maidenhead could be similar next week.  

We have to be able to play with intensity during multiple periods of a game rather than waiting for a wake-up call.  We'll be punished in the single-legged play-off games.  Slightly concerned that we have some injuries creeping in too now.  That said, we're still very capable of nabbing 5th and taking some good momentum into the play-offs.  Lots to play for.

What Barra said with the exception that I'm not entirely sure it was Fox that triggered the revival. Abrahams made a huge difference, pressed well and everything moved higher up the pitch. What did hit home was the lack of  a predatory goal scoring striker because Barnets defence is a crash waiting to happen
The OG was very strange, thought Crocombe could have been more positive but to be fair we were  long way away. I thought the delay after our equaliser cost us as it seemed to take the momentum out of our recovery.
Barnets home support is so bad, how many of them were there?

excellent summing by barra. just glad w egot summat out of it ,if just to show that cheats never prosper.Their feigned injuries and timewasting were embarrassing
would just add the pitch was v dry n bobbly ,which didnt help
dunno what it but we really seem to struggle when faced with a half empty stadium
despite it being a pretty poor display, there were actually some pretty good performances - Waterfall and Smith were v. solid, and obviosly were threat as an attacking force!
Thought Scannell was the best player on the park , whilst Clifton & Taylor put in good effective shifts. Fox was game changer. Abrahams for Jones was another v good sub.

suspect the Barnet stewards will be wishing us to go up. Too much drink and too much aggravation isn't a good mix!

Quoted from buckstown

What Barra said with the exception that I'm not entirely sure it was Fox that triggered the revival. Abrahams made a huge difference, pressed well and everything moved higher up the pitch. What did hit home was the lack of  a predatory goal scoring striker because Barnets defence is a crash waiting to happen
The OG was very strange, thought Crocombe could have been more positive but to be fair we were  long way away. I thought the delay after our equaliser cost us as it seemed to take the momentum out of our recovery.
Barnets home support is so bad, how many of them were there?

Attendance: 2,438 (1,319 away).

Absolutely appalling first half and we just simply didn't get going, Taylor at times was starved of support and I thought he did a good job today holding it up well despite being isolated, the Barnet defence was absolutely horrendous and it was disappointing we didn't get atleast one in the first half.

2nd half with the introduction of Abrahams changed things and we started to stretch them, but the 2nd half didn't start well with a strange own goal by Waterfall, no idea what happened there, but good fighting spirit to come back to 2-2 and in the end despite not playing well we probably may have done enough to win.

Very disappointed in Jones, he did very well against Chesterfield on his debut but every game he's played since then he's not looked up to it and it was no surprise to see him hooked at half time.

Feel for Taylor…isolated when McAtee not playing. Slow starts to games and he’s left up top and not a chance of doing anything , despite his efforts. When has players around him he’s top drawer..touch, awareness, reading of the game, skill..we don’t utilise him..or should I say play to his strengths.

McAtee might be back next week, badly need it - but if he isn’t - then we need to take bull by the horns.. play a striker with Taylor, get energy in the middle..Clifton and Fox, and Scannel wide..from the off be up for it. Maidenhead have a scorer..Josh Kelly has had a great season. They were awkward at their place..there’s a bit of pressure on us..won’t be easy. But we can help ourselves by being at it, and not starting slowly like we have for a few weeks now.