This season exiled Spireite David Dove will be looking at the build up to our b2net fixtures. His style of writing can often be humorous, always quick witted  and invariably informative.

So thanks Dave for Saturday's preview and we look forward to many more
 

b2net Big Match preview

By David Dove

Anyone concerned about the worldwide shortage of bees should get along to the b2net stadium at 3pm this Saturday afternoon (earlier if you've yet to purchase your match ticket). The Bees of  Barnet will be much in evidence as they have the honour of being the first ever league visitors to the Spireites magnificent new home. Even if the bee shortage hasn't caused you too many sleepless nights this game is still one not to be missed; it's the first ever league game at the b2net stadium and if you want to be able to say "I was there" to your grandkids (or even your grandparents) then this is your only chance - don't waste it !

The Bees arrive very much as an unknown quantity. Since he took over on June 1^st manager Mark Stimson has brought in no less than 14 new players. In last weeks friendly at home to Peterborough the only survivors from last season were goalkeeper Jake Cole, central defenders Clovis Kamdjo and Daniel Leach plus midfielder Mark Hughes who came on as a substitute. Barnet lost the match 3-1 with the Posh scoring twice in the last 10 minutes. The Barnet squad now has an average age of only 22. Achieving this reduction was helped considerably by the departure of Paul Furlong who played regularly last season at the age of 41 (and scored twice against us at Underhill in last season's Easter defeat.) 

Scot Boden grabbed the winner at our old home last season

Last season at Saltergate (remember Saltergate?) we beat Barnet 1-0 thanks to a Scott Boden goal. This was at the end of October and the three points enabled us to leapfrog Barnet into 6^th place. For the latter part of the season Barnet's inability to pick up points was matched only by our own. Fortunately we were flying at a greater height when we started our freefall descent so unlike Barnet were spared relegation worries. They finally finished in 22^nd place but had to wait until the last day of the season, when they beat already promoted Rochdale, to clinch safety .

We of course finished in 8^th place immediately below the play-off positions. Coincidentally 8^th is where we start the new season which unless the alphabet gets re-ordered or we have a name change (how about Aardvark United?) is pretty much where we'll start every season. Not that it matters one jot. Where we are at the end of the season is what counts.

The start of a new season is a time of great optimism for all football supporters but we have more reason than most to be confident about the future. Crowd figures for the pre-season friendlies have been tremendous. Of course this has a lot to do with the new stadium but if we can get off to a good start against Barnet, keep the momentum going, then there's every reason to believe that we can attract yet more people to the b2net. So let's make some noise, get behind the team and help turn our new home into 'Fortress b2net.'

Follow the action from the b2net stadium  when John Sheridan's new look Spireites take on Barnet

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