Middlesex F.A. Senior Cup

Quarter Final

Tuesday 31st January 2024

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.48

Barnet 0 North Greenford United 3, attendance 130

23’ 0-1

61’ 0-2

63’ 0-3

@ The Hive, 3G Pitch (North side)

Camrose Avenue

Edgware

HA8 6AG

£5 Admission

Programme, online only.

Team Sheet, free.

This was my fourth visit to The Hive complex and the fourth different pitch/ground I’ve seen a game played on here. First time was for London University versus Cambridge University in a Representative Match in January 2011, played on a grass pitch, to the right of the driveway/car park as you enter. Next up was for the stadium itself, this time for a 0-0 draw between Barnet and Welling United in a National League game on a Tuesday night in November 2013, driving over on a day trip whilst I was living in Belgium. Visit number three was in December 2019, this time for a Middlesex F.A. Senior Cup match, which Barnet lost on penalties to Staines Town, after a 1-1 draw, which was played on the 3G Pitch to the left of the entrance (the nearer of the two parrallel ones here) and finally tonight…..this was played on a newer 3G, built on the north side of the complex, running end on to the main stadium. Tickets were bought from the ticket office next to the turnstiles and once inside there was also a tea bar in operation. Spectator access is limited to nearly three quarters of one side, which has a section of metal terracing consisting of ten steps, whilst dugouts are on the far side.

Barnet are currently sitting in third place in the National League, hoping to make a return to the Football League, whilst North Greenford United are in Combined Counties League Premier Division North (Step 5). As with so many ‘big clubs’, Barnet clearly don’t see the county cup as high on their list of priorities, fielding a very young side, who although played some nice football at times, were comfortably beaten tonight. NGU opened the scoring midway through the first half, scoring with a flicked header at the near post from a corner on the left. Barnet went close twice early in the second half, hitting the post and having another effort disallowed for offside and from this, the quickly taken free kick saw NGU immediately break away down the left before finishing across the ‘keeper into the far corner. Two minutes later it was 0-3 and game over, as a ball over the top was controlled and finished with another shot into the bottom corner.