Can Robson be a success at Underhill?

Just three matches into the new season, it is far too early to judge Mark Robson’s brief tenure in charge at League Two relegation candidates Barnet.

But the signs are already pointing towards another campaign of uncertainty at the wrong end of the table with the lingering fear of relegation, something that the Bees have miraculously avoided in the last few seasons, becoming a real possibility.

The Londoners were unceremoniously dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Championship outfit Birmingham City and have only picked up one point from their first three league matches so far this term.

Last Saturday’s home defeat to fellow relegation rivals York City didn’t render much hope for the rest of the campaign, as an abysmal first half display left the Bees 3-0 down going into the second period.

Although there was an improved second half showing, the defeat left Barnet at the bottom of the table heading into a tough run of fixtures.

A trip to Relegated Rochdale is next on the agenda, followed by a London derby with high flying Gillingham at Underhill.

Two further away games at Bradford and Aldershot give Robson plenty to ponder, with Barnet fans demanding an improvement on a poor start to the new campaign.

In better news, Striker Jon Nurse is well on his way to a return to fitness after suffering a nasty head injury during Saturday’s loss to York.

Barnet’s top scorer is expected to miss the trip to Spotland at the weekend, with the Gillingham match a more realistic return date.

Tough baptism of fire for newly promoted Darts

Dartford slipped to second bottom of the Blue Square bet Premier table following their third defeat in three league games against promotion chasing Macclesfield Town.

The newly promoted Darts acquitted themselves well during the first period and were unfortunate to go behind just before the break, defender Tom Champion inadvertently headed Charlie Henry’s cross into his own net.

From that moment on the Silkmen dictated affairs and were unlucky not to extend the lead as Dartford’s goal led a charmed life.

Matthew Barnes-Homer’s clever lob came back off the post before substitute Jack Mackreth suffered similar misfortune striking the woodwork, as the Kent club somehow remained just a goal behind.

Only two minutes from time did the hosts make the game safe, Mark Arber was penalised for handball, allowing Henry to put the game out of reach from the penalty spot as Macclesfield recorded a second successive victory.

The manner in which the Kent club managed to stay within touching distance of the former Football League outfit certainly pleased manager Tony Burman.

Speaking post match Burman told BBC Radio Kent: “In the first 30 minutes we've had chances to be 2-0 up, we did really well, they're a good passing side.”

He continued: “We caught them enough times, that's when we got our chances but you have to punish the opposition.”

Despite conceding the first goal, Burman was encouraged by the response of his side and felt that the Darts could have snatched something from the game.

He added:  “Once we went a goal down we put pressure on ourselves even more, but I felt the game was there to get something out of it. What I wanted when we made the subs didn't happen, the guys have done well but we went a goal down, you might as well go for it.”

Next Saturday’s clash with bottom of the table Kidderminster could prove pivotal as the Darts look to kick-start their league season.

Robson ready to mark Bees debut

Tonight’s Capital One first round clash between Birmingham City and Npower League Two side Barnet will represent the managerial debut of new Bees boss Mark Robson.

The Londoners travel to the twice winners of the League Cup knowing that they are in for a tough outing against a Birmingham side who narrowly missed out on a return to the Premier League last season.

Robson is under no illusions the magnitude of the task at hand but backed by a large travelling support, he believes Barnet can rise to the occasion and cause Lee Clarke’s side some problems.

Speaking to the club’s website Robson said:  “We are all really looking forward to the game this evening, it’s a big game for us against a side that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season.”

He continued: “I’m hoping it will be a good occasion for the club and we hope to put on a decent display for the travelling supporters, give a good account of ourselves and give the fans something to be proud of.”

The newly reformed Capital One Cup begins before the start of the new league campaign in a reshape to the football calendar.

With the league season not starting until this Saturday, Robson admits he would prefer Barnet to kick off their league campaign before entering the cup competition.

He added: “It’s perhaps a shame that we haven’t got a few league games under our belt before we take on a Championship side, but we are looking for something positive to take into our first league game of the season at Port Vale on Saturday.”

Barnet’s miraculous final day survival act of last season is something that Head Coach Robson is keen to avoid.

The Barnet boss has openly admitted that the league takes priority over the Capital One Cup but with the addition of several new faces over the summer, Robson is likely to field a strong side at St. Andrews.

He continued:  “Obviously the league is our real focus for the season, but I’ll be taking all the available first team players with us when we leave The Hive this afternoon and we travel in good spirits.”

Robson has also confirmed that central defender Jon Fortune will be given the captain’s armband ahead of the new season.

Blue Square bet Premier Opening day round-up

The opening weekend of the new Blue Square bet Premier campaign certainly whets the appetite for the remainder of the season.

No fewer than 42 goals were scored with a few surprises along the way, especially at Field Mill where promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town succumbed a Newport County side threatened by relegation last season.

The Exiles raced into a 2-0 lead with barely 10 minutes gone, the hosts battled back to equalise early into the second half, but goals from Aaron O’Connor and Jefferson Louis restored the visitors’ advantage.

Danny Crow struck two minutes from time, but Mansfield were left to rue defensive vulnerabilities as Newport claimed an impressive 4-3 victory.

Fellow promotion contenders Luton Town had to battle back from being 2-0 down at the break at home to Gateshead.

New signing and former Gateshead striker, John Shaw gave the Hatters some hope just after the hour mark and Stuart Fleetwood completed the comeback with 20 minutes remaining, firing in from close range.

Wrexham put behind them the disappointment of missing out on promotion last season with a comfortable victory against newly promoted Woking.

Robert Ogleby and Dean Keates gave the Dragons the advantage going into half time, Bradley Budd pulled one back for the visitors on the hour mark, but Mark Creighton’s late header ensured that the Cards were dealt an opening day defeat at the Racecourse Ground.

Friday night’s clash between both relegated clubs Hereford United and Macclesfield Town was a tight affair, but Marlon Jackson’s second half strike gave the Bulls a valuable opening day victory against their promotion rivals.

The first Blue Square bet Premier match to be staged at Princes Park ended rather disappointingly for the hosts as Dartford slipped to a 3-2 defeat to Tamworth.

Adam Cunnington’s brace sealed a vital victory on the road for the Lambs leaving Dartford to contemplate an opening day defeat against their fellow relegation candidates.

Blue Square bet Premier results:

Hereford United 2-1 Macclesfield Town

Barrow 0-0 AFC Telford

Braintree Town 2-2 Hyde

Dartford 2-3 Tamworth

Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Cambridge United

Lincoln City 1-0 Kidderminster Harriers

Luton Town 2-2 Gateshead FC

Mansfield Town 3-4 Newport

Nuneaton Town 4-5 Ebbsfleet United

Southport 1-1 Grimsby Town

Stockport County 1-0 Alfreton Town

Wrexham 3-1 Woking

Ebbsfleet recover to secure thrilling opening day victory

Any Ebbsfleet supporters that made the 260-mile round trip to newly promoted Nuneaton Town on the opening day of the new Blue Square bet Premier season were certainly given their money’s worth.

After 20 minutes it appeared that the journey to the West Midlands was going to be a wasted one as Andy Brown and Adam Walker quickly established a comfortable advantage for the hosts.

But within 10 minutes, the visitors had turned the game around as Tom Phipp, Nathan Elder and new signing Moses Ashikodi all struck to send the Fleet into half time with the lead.

Striker Liam Enver-Marum, who had returned to Ebbsfleet following his trial at League One Stevenage, added a fourth soon after the break to give the Kent club some breathing space.

Robbie Thompson-Brown provide Nuneaton with some hope, but Phipp struck again two minutes from time to seal a dramatic opening day victory.

Brown grabbed his second of the match deep into stoppage time, but was unable to prevent Nuneaton from slipping to a 5-4 defeat on an eventful afternoon at Liberty Way.

Post match, Ebbsfleet boss Liam Daish was pleased to get off to a good start but insists his side would need to be better defensively to improve on last season’s efforts.

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent Daish said: “It must have been good for the neutral and we haven't won on the first day of the season for a long time.”

He continued: “All the strikers got off the mark, which is great, and we took our chances well. We got back in the game. There were always going to be goals but I didn't expect that many.”

The Fleet welcome Braintree Town to Stonebridge Road on Tuesday evening in the first of back-to-back home matches.

Wrexham are next on the agenda and Daish is keen to build momentum and make the most of the best possible start to the new season.

He concluded: “I've got to start on the positives, I know there were negatives that I will highlight to the players, but we're off and running and we've got our first three points on the road.”

Allen beats off League One interest to secure Burton signature

League Two promotion hopefuls Gillingham have completed the signing of veteran forward Deon Burton on a one-year deal after beating off interest from an unnamed League One side.

Burton returns to England following a spell in Azerbaijan playing under Tony Adams at Gabala FC, but joins the Gills on a free transfer after leaving in the summer.

Manager Martin Allen believes the 35-year-old’s experience will benefit the younger members of his squad.

 “He's got a great attitude, he'll be good for our younger players and he will be good around the club.” Allen told the club website.

“This has been going on now for a good few weeks and the chairman (Paul Scally) managed to pull it off.”

The former Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday striker’s last campaign in England was for Kent neighbours Charlton Athletic three seasons ago, in which the former Jamaican international scored 14 goals in 44 appearances as the Addicks reached the League One playoffs.

Despite being in the latter stages of his career, Burton has been attracting interest from higher level opposition, but chose to move to the Priestfield Stadium as the Gills look to make it third time lucky in their attempt to win promotion back into League One.

Allen continued: “We have been after Deon for a few weeks whilst he's been training at a Division One club, they offered him a deal but our chairman offered him a better deal and we are delighted he has agreed to sign for us.”

The Kent club face a difficult start to the new campaign with three of their first four matches away from home.

Gillingham travel to Championship outfit Bristol City in the Capital One Cup before a home league meeting with Bradford, prior to two difficult trips to Wycombe and Dagenham & Redbridge.

The arrival of Burton will give the Gills a much needed goal threat in anticipation of a promotion winning campaign.