Wealdstone vs Barnet preview
When I opened up the floor on Twitter for blog pieces, this was another one I added to the list but one that needed to be written closer to the time rather than ‘lost in the post’ a week or so ago.
Wealdstone vs Barnet this weekend has a lot riding on it, three points essentially but of course it goes much deeper than that. I think it’s fair to note there is a fair few grudges held, namely over what it now The Hive and home to Barnet FC.
There is the bad blood between the current two bosses of both clubs to give it that extra edge and then the recent thumping the Stones dished out to the Bees last season which finally caused Tony Kleanthous to sort out his managerial problem, well at least for a few months.
I don’t want to spend too much time on the nitty gritty bits mentioned above, after all we’re there to watch a National League game on Saturday afternoon where the three points on offer are crucial for both sides.
For those reading this who don’t know and if any part is incorrect then please advise me otherwise. My understanding is the land where The Hive now sits was part completed by Wealdstone and their financial partners but was unable to be finished off. Kleanthous then identified it as a training complex for the Bees, swooped in and made it what it is today.
Reading back through historic articles online the Stones were told by Harrow council that as part of the planning agreement with Barnet they were to be allowed a groundshare on reasonable terms, that as we know has never materialised.
Now I’m not going to get into the rights or wrongs over it, you can all discuss that to death on social media, but please be pleasant. I’m sure there is added stuff to this, there might also not be but that is my basic understanding of it all.
Then we come to the managers, Dean Brennan and Stuart Maynard. The former of course an ex-Stones boss who spoke to Barnet last season with permission, declined the move, stayed where he was and then found his P45 arriving. Maynard stepped into the breach, with it believed he was working behind Brennan’s back, a friendship ruined and more to separate the two sides.
Onto the football as that’s what we’re here for! It’s a strange rivalry for me as I’ve only really been used to Stevenage as local rivals over the 20 odd years I’ve been a Bees fan, now credit to both the Stones and Boreham Wood for reaching this level as we’re a million miles away from a return to the Football League.
Last season saw the balance shift towards Wealdstone in their first season back at this level, dishing out a 5-1 thumping at home to the Bees, one of many lowlights last season, in fact far too many to want to remember!
Barnet are currently enjoying their highest position in the table going back twelve months, but only since sacking Harry Kewell who registered no wins in the first seven games of the season. Since Brennan has taken interim control of the side, he has registered just one defeat to big spending Wrexham in the same amount of time as Kewell had with the team.
Contrast that to the Stones and they’re in a bit of freefall currently, just one win in their last seven games but a very big win over high flying Grimsby Town at home which would have relieved a bit of pressure on Maynard and the team. Neither side has played a National League game since the end of October so we’re either going to see a little rustiness or refreshed players ready to go.
Being a part time outfit does make it hard to compete in this division and given some of the sums of money clubs parted with over the summer staying in this division and upsetting some of the bigger clubs is an achievement in itself.
I can see this being quite a feisty affair both on and off the pitch given the history and the current as well, I can’t say I’d like to be the man in the middle for this one! Of course though I’m hoping it’s me and the Bees fans celebrating come the final whistle and then possibly the talk of how much longer we continue under an interim manager……..