Martin Allen is more accustomed to final-day drama at the wrong end of the table, so this was something of a novelty – a final day which saw his Barnet side crowned as Conference champions and one that was relatively stress-free. Mauro Vilhete’s two goals were enough to see off Gateshead and secure a return to the Football League after two years away.
The equation had been straightforward – equal or better Bristol Rovers’ result against Alfreton. A five-minute spell in the first-half apart, when Rovers led and Barnet had not found a breakthrough, the Bees were always ahead of the curve. There was little doubt on the day but for Allen there had been little doubt for quite a while.
“To be top of the league from wire to wire has been quite remarkable,” said Allen. “Nobody expected us to do it, the bookmakers, the pundits, the experts. But with the players we had and the way we played in pre-season, I knew a week before the season started that we were going to be the champions, I just knew it. There was no one that could stop us. Behind the scenes I knew we were going to get 90-plus points and win the league.”
Allen is now in his fourth stint with the club, having led the side with some distinction in 2003-04, 2011 and 2012. Those spells did not always end well but he is now firmly back in the good books. “I think I owed the supporters something to be honest,” he said. “Walking out of the relationship, ditching them, going for money, which is what I have done, I’ve never made any secret of that … I think perhaps today for the first time all season I’d say I think I’ve paid it back, I’ve paid them back.”
The club’s chairman, Tony Kleanthous, set his sights on a League Two promotion campaign next season – “We’ve only just begun. It’s always been the plan and now we’ve got the vehicle to take the journey with” – but first he must ensure that his manager doesn’t escape again. Allen’s contract runs out this summer.
Predictably enough the Hive was buzzing throughout. This was the first time that Barnet had sold out their new ground, having left the rather more ramshackle charms of Underhill two years ago and the mood was euphoric. Allen had put last weekend’s draw at Kidderminster down to nerves but if the manager was edgy he did not show it – indeed, he was a one-man wall of noise – and there was nothing too nervy about the way his team performed.
Some trepidation did creep into the Hive when news of Rovers’ opening goal filtered through after 20 minutes but that was quickly assuaged. Five minutes later Sam Togwell swung in a free-kick and Mauro Vilhete was left unmarked eight yards out to nod powerfully past Adam Bartlett.
Rovers were doing their part to keep the pressure on – a 3-0 half-time lead left Barnet in no doubt as to what was required. But any pressure was relieved with the second goal five minutes into the second half. Togwell slung in a corner and though Bartlett was equal to the initial header, Vilhete was on hand to slam home the loose ball and send the Bees up, despite Rovers’ seven without reply in Bristol.
