My Round and White debut

For those that are unfamiliar with it, It’s Round and It’s White is a football website, covering an entire spectrum of football leagues – from the Football League to Non-League in England, to Europe and as far as America and Australia. It relies on the input of the average football fan, regardless of writing and journalistic experience, meaning anyone can write about their club.

I had been following Round and White on Twitter for a while now, and often speak to its editorial team – which was the main reason behind finally writing for the site; as well as getting a chance to showcase my writing.

It isn’t only match reports that can be found on the site, although the majority of articles are views from people at League games over the course of the weekend. I wrote my first piece this week, following our 2–2 draw with Cheltenham Town on Friday night.

Match Report: Barnet 2–2 Cheltenham Town (Barnet fan’s perspective)

Another Friday and another game of football for Barnet, this time at home to promotion-hopefuls, Cheltenham. Although on this display, questions must be asked as to how they’ve managed their current run of form – on yesterday’s showing, they were distinctly average.

The Bees started the brighter of the two sides, attacking from the off. On a different day, or with a better level of finishing, two of three goals in the opening 15 wouldn’t have flattered the home side. Izale McLeod, now on 14 League goals for the season went closest, with a lob being cleared off the line by a Cheltenham defender. Two minutes later and Mark Byrne, with a volley from at least 20 yards out (which went wide, to the right of the net) could have wrapped up the points in a rampant, attacking opening period.

However, it was the Robins who went ahead, just after the half-hour mark, with what was their first shot of the game after what could only be described as ‘typical’ defending by Barnet. Whilst it has improved since the three loan signings have been brought in, the inability to clear the ball from corners remains our downfall and was exactly how the visitors got the opening goal – a header from Kaid Mohamed.

With half-time fast approaching, the Bees continued to press to get that equalising goal and managed to get it with five minutes of the half remaining through man of the moment McLeod. League Two’s top scorer tapped-in following a beautiful cross from the game’s Man of the Match, Sam Deering. It was the least we deserved, being completely on top of the game.

It then only took Cheltenham three minutes to retake the lead, with a most obscure decision. An apparent handball by one of our players – in fact, no-one but the ref saw it; the player in question escaped a booking (and a talking to!). Up stepped Darryl Duffy to slot away the spot kick for the visitors. The score at half time 1–2.

It took another penalty in the second forty five to earn the Bees a point. Only a yellow for Sido Jombati, the last man, who hacked down McLeod in the middle of the penalty area – with everyone asking “how wasn’t that a red?” Of course, Izale duly put it away.

Both teams could have won it in the final half-hour – Cheltenham’s Smikle went closest, lobbing Dean Brill in the Bees’ goal, but missing the target.

On reflection a point was a fair result in what was an entertaining encounter.

Attendance: 1,775 (away: 220)

Starting line-ups:

Barnet: Brill; Senda, Hector, Downing, Borrowdale; Marshall, Byrne, Hughes, Kamdjo, Deering; McLeod.

Cheltenham Town: Brown; Elliot, Bennett, Garbutt, Jombati; Pack, Low, Summerfield; Duffy, Spencer, Mohamed.

I thoroughly encourage anyone interested in writing to get involved with the site, regardless of the team they support or league they follow; the team are always after contributions.

Round and White can be found on Twitter @RoundAndWhite and the website is http://itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/