County welcome Barnet to Edgeley Park this Saturday looking to do the double over the Bees, as the race for a place in the play-offs really starts to heat up.
With just nine games left to play for County this season, a victory on Saturday against a direct rival for the play-offs could prove decisive as we approach the business end of the season.
Last weekend’s victory at Ebbsfleet, sealed by Ash Palmer’s late header, extended our unbeaten run to four games, and at the time moved us into the final play-off place.
Since then, victories for Notts County and Hartlepool United on Tuesday night have seen County drop two places to ninth, but with only goal difference separating us from Notts County in sixth. It could not be tighter.
Although Barnet currently sit four points behind the Hatters in the League table, their four games in hand mean they cannot be discounted as a major threat for the play-offs.
Victory on Saturday could see County move into sixth, should other results go their way, and potentially within just two points of 3rd place FC Halifax. With several of our rivals going head to head this weekend, three points on Saturday could prove hugely significant.
Since we last met:
County’s visit to the Hive in November saw a remarkable late turnaround for the Hatters, as two goals in the final 15 minutes, including a stoppage time header from Frank Mulhern, saw us come from behind to secure what was just a third away win of the season.
That result saw us move above Barnet into 11th, with the Bees dropping down to 15th after 21 games played.
The Bees immediately followed up that result with defeat at League Leaders Barrow, but since then have lost just one league game, away at Solihull, a run consisting of six wins, four draws and that solitary defeat in the West Midlands.
Although they were dumped out of the FA Trophy at home to Halesowen Town last Saturday, the Bees bounced back by claiming a credible draw against Boreham Wood on Tuesday night.
Despite that impressive run, the side still only find themselves in 13th place, as due to a combination of progression in the FA Trophy and postponements due to the state of their pitch, they have currently played four games less than many of the teams above them.
Those games will give Barnet, led by their former midfielder Darren Currie, genuine belief they can start climbing the League table, but as the old adage goes, points on the board are better than games in hand, and a win on Saturday would move us seven clear of the Londoners.
County will have to be weary of Barnet’s lethal attacking force, with fourteen goal Simeon Akinola now backed up by loanee Paul McCallum, who has already scored twice at Edgeley Park this season in Solihull Moors 4-1 win back in November.
McCallum was the second-top scorer in the National League last season with 26 goals, and has three in three for Barnet since his loan move down south.

Match Stats:
- Of our twelve previous meetings with Barnet, County have just had the edge with five wins to their four, with three meetings ending all square.
- This will be Barnet’s first visit to Edgeley Park since October 2010, when goals from George Donnelly and Robbie Williams (not that one) secured County a 2-1 win.
- County’s 54 points this season is already the highest amount we have accrued whilst playing in the fifth tier of English Football (51 points in 2011/12, 50 points in 2012/13).