BEES
CHAMPIONS OF LEAGUE TWO 2008-9
Since a young child and over the years I have spent a small fortune
watching them. I have seen the good times (yes, there were actually
a few good times) and numerous bad times.
The 2008-9 season was a
great season for the Bees, ending up as Champions of League Two.
Will they be able to survive the next season in League One? In the
close season they sign 3 players from Dagenham &
Redbridge.
Mixed results in the pre-season friendlies as they lose to
Farnborough Town, Staines Town, and Ipswich Town. They draw with
Aldershot Town and Crystal Palace, but beat Sutton United, and
Hayes and Yeading. Just prior to the first league match they sign
another couple of players.
The first game of the 2009-10 season is away to Carlisle United on
Saturday August 8th. The boys have a brilliant start to their
League One campaign, by beating Carlisle 3-1. They then lose 1-0 at
home to 10-man Bristol City in the 1st Round of the Carling Cup (so
they can now concentrate on the league). They sign another couple
of players then draw 0-0 with Brighton in their first home match in
League One. The boys are still unbeaten in the League with a 2-1
home win against Norwich. They keep their unbeaten record by
drawing 1-1 away to Southampton. Then another 1-1 draw at home to
Oldham. They do lose 1-0 away to Norwich but this is in the 1st
Round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
I knew it couldn’t last and they lose their first league match 2-0
away to high-flying table-toppers Charlton. They then grab a point
by drawing 0-0 away to Huddersfield. I can now see the usual slide
down the table at this time of the season as they lose 3-1 at home
to Bristol Rovers (thank goodness I didn’t buy a season ticket
after all). Now it’s two defeats in a row as they go down 2-0 away
to Yeovil. The boys get back to winning ways with a 2-1 home win
against Southend. After being behind at the interval they convert
two penalties, the winner in the 5th minute of added on time. They
lose again a few days later with another home defeat 3-2 against
Swindon. They then manage a goalless draw away to Hartlepool. Then
another defeat, this time 2-1 away to Leyton Orient.
At last, a win 2-0 at home to Stockport, but then slump to another
defeat 3-0 away to Exeter. Then they almost get dumped out of the
FA Cup in the 1st Round. After being behind to non-league Gateshead
they recover to take the lead but let in an equaliser in stoppage
time to draw 2-2. They let in another late equaliser to draw 2-2 at
home to Millwall in the league. At last a win even if it is against
non-league Gateshead, as the Bees win convincingly 5-2 at home in
their FA Cup 1st Round replay. They now host Walsall in Round 2.
Co-incidentally their next home league game was against Walsall and
they could only manage yet another draw, this time 1-1 and again
they were leading for most of the match. They are now 16th in the
league. They lose 1-0 away to lowly Wycombe and slip to 18th. I can
sense a depressing winter and the threat of relegation looms. At
least they progress to the 3rd Round of the FA Cup as they beat
Walsall 1-0 at home. Another win in the league, this time 1-0 at
home to high flying Colchester. Just when you think a mini-revival
is about to happen they lose 1-0 away to bottom of the league
Tranmere. They make up by drawing 0-0 at home to league leaders
Leeds. Surprise, surprise they win away at MK Dons 1-0. The start
of the Xmas fixtures sees them win 1-0 away to Gillingham with both
teams having a player sent off. Then a 1-1 draw at home against 2nd
placed Charlton sees them move up to 11th (but I know it won’t
last).
After a long lay-off because of the bad weather, they start their
first match in the New Year with a 3-1 home win against Carlisle.
They lose in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup 1-0 at home to in-form
Championship side Doncaster, but only by a late goal. I’m not too
disappointed as consolidating their place in League One is far more
important. No consolidation yet as they lose 1-0 away to high
flying Norwich. They avoid defeat in their next league match by
drawing 1-1 at home to Southampton. They then get back to winning
ways with a 4-0 home victory against lowly Gillingham,
consolidating their 10th place in League One.
If you wish to know more about the players then click
here (but I can't imagine why
you would want to).
For more honest opinions click here
and
here.