He may be 68 but if the Bees injury crisis doesn’t ease shortly that shirt might just be put into action! Again Barnet go into a match without a number of first team regulars although there is finally some positive news with Andre Boucard and Callum Reynolds close to finally making their Bee’s debuts and Elliott Johnson back in the running after picking up a knock at Orient.

Saturday’s draw against an AFC Fylde side who will certainly be there or there about come May was a creditable performance even if the Bees were left to thank the right hand post and the visitors Joe Cardle for missing an open goal from five yards. Tonight a Havant and Waterlooville side that has only won twice all season leaving them in the bottom four should provide the perfect opportunity for Barnet to return to winning ways.

John Still’s main selection problem will be wether to give loanee Zak Jules, who made an impressive debut on Saturday, another outing or to recall the fit again Elliot Johnson. Havant drew 1-1 at ten man Ebbsfleet on Saturday and put up a good show in their previous away outing going down by the odd goal in five at then league leaders Harrogate. The Hawks have played their part in some entertaining encounters so far boasting both the leagues best away attack with 10 goals and worst away defence having conceded 18 on their travels so far.

We’ll have reports on all the action at The Hive throughout the evening.

Let’s as always start @ the top and National League with Barnet who took on AFC Fylde @ the Hive in what was the first ever meeting these 2 & both had to settle for a point following a 1-1 draw. The Bees showed 2 changes from last week’s defeat to now new leaders Leyton Orient with Shaq Coulthirst (back from injury) & Zak Jules who was making his debut following his loan move from Shrewsbury both replacing the injured Elliott Johnson & Josh Walker who dropped to the bench & it was the returning Coulthrist who gave the Bees the lead on 20 minutes when he buried a low shot from 20 yards past the visitors goalkeeper Jay Lynch for his 3^rd goal of the season however the 67 fans who made the long journey via the M6 were celebrating just 5 minutes later when Danny Philliskirk headed home following a great cross in the box, which caught the Bees defence napping.

For the rest of the game, the visitors were more likely to score & almost did late on when Danny Rowe hit the outside of the post & bounced to safety.

A draw was probably the most the Bees could expect & will hoping for a much improved performance when Havant & Waterloville visit on Tuesday, followed by much sterner test to Wrexham next Saturday. The draw sees the Bees in 12^th place four points off the play offs.

As for Boreham Wood following their midweek 4-0 thrashing of Sutton United, they suffered their first league defeat in 6 games when they beaten 3-1 by newly promoted play-off contenders Salford City now unbeaten in 9.

The home side were in front after just 3 minutes when Tom Walker scored via a slight deflection, it was to get even worst for the Wood on 21 minutes when they fell further behind, Mark Shelton with a 25 yarder.

Just after half time, it was game over, Rory Gaffney sweeping home. Wood did pull a back before the hour through Josh Umerah, his second goal this week. That was the end of the scoring & for Wood & the loss has seen them drop a place to 10^th, but well within sight of the play offs, however there is still a long way to go.

Wood are back in league action on Tuesday when they make the journey to Eastleigh, followed by the first ever meeting with surprise package Harrogate Town @ home next Saturday.

Now onto the FA Cup & it was the 2^nd qualifying round stage & only 1 of our sides that started early in the competition were scheduled to play, however it wasn’t to be as Hendon’s home match against Phoenix Sports was postponed late on Friday night as the Kent side were being investigated by the FA for playing an ineligible player in the last round against Lancing. More news on that in due course.

The Greens are next in action next Saturday when they make the trip to 15^th placed Dorchester Town hoping to maintain their place in the rather congested top 6.

Our other 2 local sides from the Bostik Premier had the weekend off, Potters Bar & Wingate & Finchley.

There next matches are next Saturday, when both play @ home, The Scholars face unbeaten Bognor Regis whilst Win/Fin face Lewes.

And finally onto the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division & it was a bad day @ the office for our 2 teams as both picked up nil points from their latest games.

Hadley were beaten 3-1 @ home to the leaders Tring Athletic, whilst Edgware made to journey up A1 & were beaten 2-0 by Baldock Town @ the home of Arlesey Town.

In the Hadley game, Stephen O’Hara gave the Arkley based side the lead after 12 minutes, however goals from Ashton Campbell on 18, Luke Dunstan on 50 & Jack Reed in the final few minutes secured the 3 points for the visitors. Hadley though did play the last 10 minutes with 10 men after Shaz Anwar was sent off.

The goals that secured Baldock’s win over the Wares were both scored by Kieran Barnes on 54 & 59 minutes.

Both sides have midweek fixtures coming up, both on Tuesday as Hadley travel to Division 1 leaders FC Broxbourne Borough in the Challenge trophy, whilst 10^th placed Edgware host 13^th placed London Colney.

Nick

National League

Barnet 1 AFC Fylde 1

A hard earned point for the Bees with both goals coming in six first half minutes. Shaq Coulthirst put Barnet in front with a sharp finish into the bottom right hand corner after 20 minutes. The lead didn’t last long Danny Philliskirk heading home from close range. The Bees enjoyed plenty of possession early in the second period but it was the visitors who had the better opportunities Joe Cardle missing from six yards and Danny Rowe hitting a post.

Attendance: 1,101

League Position: 12th

Spartan South Midlands League Premier

Hadley 1 Tring Athletic 3

League Position: 7th

Baldock Town 2 Edgware Town 0

League Position: 10th

Rumours that Manager John Still put in a bid to take the cast of Casualty on loan this week proved unfounded but there’s little doubt the club are facing an injury crisis the like of which we haven’t seen for many years. Elliott Johnson and David Tutonda were the latest to join the ever increasing queue for the treatment room both picking up knocks in the 3-1 defeat at Orient. Still has moved to cover the vacancy left in defence by the arrival on loan of 21 year old Zak Jules from Shrewsbury. Happy on the left hand side of defence Jules has been capped by Scotland at youth and under 21 level. Elsewhere there appears to be little positive news on the injury front with the Bees again missing the likes of Callum Reynolds, Andre Boucard, Dave Tarpey, and Ricardo Santos.

Its the first ever meeting between The Bees and AFC Fylde a club whose rise through the non league ranks from the North West Counties League has been financed by Chairman David Haythornthwaite. The Coasters lost out to  Boreham Wood in the play offs last season and have made a confident start this time around, only being beaten by pre season promotion favourites Salford City. Draws have been the order of the day away from home with four so far added to a victory at Ebbsfleet. Its likely to be another testing afternoon for the Bees against visitors who have only conceded six goals in 11 games.

AFC Fylde are based in Wesham just outside Preston the town where the first KFC outside North America opened and the home of Beano’s Bash Street Kids the invention of Preston born Leo Baxendale. Manager Dave Challinor has been at the club for six years and still holds the record for the longest throw in football measured at 46.3 metres while playing for Stockport County.

As usual our commentary team of Pete Hill & Garry Lakin will be live from the Hive with full match coverage on our Saturday Sport Show.

Bostik Premer Division

Potters Bar Town 1 Worthing 1

The Scholars looked to be on their way to their first win in five when Bradley Sach gave them the lead on the hour but a Joel Colbran goal 16 minutes from time gave the visitors a point.

Attendance: 197

League Position: 12th

London Senior Cup

Harrow Borough 3 Hendon 2

A young Greens side went out of the London Senior Cup despite goals from Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick and substitute Mickey White.

Coming Up This Week

Tuesday September 18th

Bostik League Premier Division

Potters Bar Town v Worthing (7:45)

London Senior Cup

Harrow Borough v Hendon (7:45)

National League

Leyton Orient 3  Barnet 1

The O’s maintained their unbeaten start to the season stopping the Bees run of five straight wins in the process. Poor marking led to Josh Coulson putting the home side in front after 12 minutes. The lead should have doubled seven minutes later but Mark Cousins somehow managed to keep Macauley Bonne’s point blank header out of the net. Gaining in confidence after that Barnet were level after 25 minutes when David Tutonda set up Wes Fonguck for a superb finish into the top right corner. The second half lacked the intensity of the first until Chey Alexander’s misplaced pass fell to James Dayton who curled the ball round Cousins to put Orient back in front. The points were sealed when Macauley Bonne pounced on his own rebound from the right hand post to drive the ball home 12 minutes from time.

Bees: Cousins, Alexander, Johnson, Adams, Robson, Tutonda (Payne 69), Taylor, Fonguck (Kyei 79), Sweeney, Barham, Walker (Mason-Clarke 66)

Attendance: 5607 (601)

Current League Position: 11th

Bostik League Premier Division

Potters Bar Town 0 Leatherhead 1

The Scholars fell to their third straight defeat thanks to a 24th minute goal from Robert Cullen.

Attendance: 171

Current League Position: 13th

Wingate & Finchley 2 Mertsham 0

A Sean Cronin penalty a minute before the break and a second half effort from long serving defender Marc Weatherstone gave Wingate and Finchley their first home victory of the season.

Attendance: 96

Current League Position: 14th

Evo-Stik South Premier South

Hendon 1 Poole Town 0

Ricardo German took his goal tally into double figures burying a 9th minute spot kick to continue the Green’s excellent start to the new campaign.

Attendance: 263

Current League Position: 6th

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Hadley 0 Enfield FC 1

The Bees travel to Brisbane Road looking for their sixth win in a row something they haven’t achieved in 14 years. A 4-1 thumping of Ebbsfleet at Underhill on 18th September 2004 completed the half dozen for Paul Fairclough’s championship bound side, today John Still’s squad look to equal that run. Orient of course will have other ideas unbeaten in their opening nine fixtures the O’s are up to third in the table just two points behind early leaders Harrogate. Brisbane Road has turned into something of a fortress for them so far with former Bee’s keeper Dean Brill going 275 minutes since conceding a home goal.

Last time we ascended the north face of the stand to one of the highest press boxes in the country we witnessed a brace from Ricardo Santos as part of a 3-1 win. Santos is in the queue for the treatment room these days along with a large part of the squad. So once again John Still is likely to be struggling to fill the bench where 16 year olds Aymen Amaze and Martyn Box were included last week. The return of goalkeeper Richards Matrevics from international duty will see him back up Mark Cousins this time but elsewhere there is likely to be little change.

Both John Still who started his career at Brisbane Road and assistant Darren Currie have  worn Orient colours. Of the current crop striker Josh Koroma has set himself out as one to watch having become the clubs youngest player to bag a hat trick against Newport last year.

Leyton is the birthplace of Harry Beck who designed the London Tube Map and where metal band Iron Maiden first got together. The O’s also hold a special place in football history thanks to Fred Le May. Making just 10 appearances in 1932/33 wouldn’t normally be considered anything special but at a mere 5 foot tall Fred is believed to be the shortest player ever to kick a ball (we presume heading was out of the question!) in the Football League.

As John Still said in his match preview “its bends, its turns, its roadworks and sometimes you get held up.” So as we set the satnav for E10 along with 500+ Bees fans lets hope we get the green light and sail through to three more points!

Full coverage of the game will be on HRB Saturday Sport with Mel Beresford.