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Remember Kettering
Below is an article by Nicholas Harding from this morning's Daily Telegraph.
The fate of Kettering 13 years ago is a stark reminder to Barnet, who look down on the rest of the Nationwide Conference 10 points clear. Their advantage a week ago was 13 points.
Kettering, who suffered only their second loss of the 1990-91 season on Jan 19, had gone into the new year leading by 11 points but eventually finished fourth, seven points behind the champions, who were.....Barnet.
Twice, in the Nineties, Kettering were runners-up. The good times have long since passed. Peter Morris, the manager who also took them to an FA Trophy final in his second spell at Rockingham Road, is scouting for Manchester City. And Kettering are in the Conference North, challenging for promotion with joint leaders Alfreton.
Barnet, who have looked vulnerable at home against lowly sides, losing to Burton and Tamworth in the league and South League Bath City in the FA Cup, are invincible on their travels.
"We came back after the Bath defeat and we will respond again," manager Paul Fairclough promised after the upset against Tamworth last week.
Although his club face three games in seven days over the holidays - two of them against Stevenage, his former club - Fairclough has allowed veteran defender Danny Maddix to leave Underhill. The 37-year-old former Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday player, who made 38 starts last season, has not figured this time.
While Barnet enjoy the benefits of local derbies, spare a thought for Scarborough, who visit them on Dec 28, and Aldershot, who make the even longer trek to Carlisle the same day.
"I'd like to thank the fixtures secretary," Terry Brown, the Aldershot manager, said with undisguised sarcasm. "That must have taken great geographical awareness when you think of the local derbies we could have had against Woking, Farnborough or Crawley. He has probably cost us between £10,000 and £15,000 in gate money."
The return of striker Jonny Dixon for another month on loan from Wycombe Wanderers is, though, a bonus for Brown. Dixon has scored five goals in six games for the Shots who continue, nevertheless, to look a shadow of the team that reached the play-off final last season.
Nor have Hereford, Aldershot's victims in the play-off semi-finals, hit the heights of last season. But Graham Turner's men, who lag a further four points behind second-placed Carlisle, are over their slump and well placed to answer the critics who say the best route into the League via Edgar Street is to play on the wing and join another club. Michael McIndoe, Paul Parry and Gavin Williams have all followed that particular path.
Carlisle are best placed to capitalise should Barnet fade, especially now that top scorer Karl Hawley and midfielder Chris Lumsdon have signed extended contracts, keeping them at Brunton Park until June 2007.
Down at the bottom, Leigh RMI, who have taken one point from the last 39, are seemingly destined for the drop along with Northwich Victoria, who may not recover from the 10-point penalty they incurred for going into administration