Barnet fair

For all of the temptation of an Ebbsfleet United or a Dover Athletic or even a FC United of Manchester, I was far happier with Barnet away in today’s FA Cup 1st Round draw.

We have only played the Bees four times, never in the league but we have met them a couple of times in recent pre-season’s. I was at our only competitive game at Underhill in 1995. It was a truly dreadful game, on a dreadful pitch. I think the crowd was around 1,750 and we must have had around 500. I expect there to be double the crowd on November 6th.

The draw threw up some great ties including derbies between Hayes & Yeading v Wycombe, Dagenham & Redbridge v Leyton Orient, Stevenage v MK Dons, Accrington v Oldham, Rochdale v FC United of Manchester and potentially Gills v Dover, if they win their replay. The last two games being potential TV material, which at least we shouldn’t be!

Eastbourne Borough blew a great chance of making it into the hat but lost to Harrow Borough, who play two divisions below them, 4-2. Notts County have a tricky looking game at home to Gateshead but they will be without manager Craig Short, who got the sack today. Short was County’s 4th manager in just over a year.