City’s 3-2 win at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night was just the tonic Gary Caldwell’s side needed after successive defeats – not just the win ensuring a home tie in the first knockout round, but the fact the match saw the return of a number of favourites to the side – Reece Cole, Vincent Harper and especially Demetri Mitchell, whose late winner in his first appearance for 364 days was the stuff of dreams. It’s cup action again on Saturday as City welcome National League high-fliers Barnet to the Park for a date in the calendar that is always eagerly anticipated, the first round of the FA Cup. With Harper, Cole and Mitchell all back in the frame, Caldwell now has almost a full squad to choose from which will give him a nice headache. However, Caldwell will almost certainly put out as strong a side as possible due to the potential rewards on offer. Thanks to the squalid deal between the FA and the Premier League, whose clubs constantly moan about too many fixtures then disappear off around the world to play matches whenever possible, there are now no replays in the FA Cup’s main rounds, so the match will be played to a conclusion on the day.
Having suffered something of a slump a couple of seasons ago, Barnet appear to be back towards their best and are challenging back near the top of the National League as they seek yet another promotion to the EFL – perhaps the first side to have become a “yo-yo” club between National League and EFL. Dean Brennan has got the Bees playing some attractive attacking play, indeed Barnet have only failed to score in one league fixture so far this season. They reached the first round by virtue of a 4-0 thrashing of a Chelmsford City side managed by former City striker Robbie Simpson. The main goal threat is likely to come from the much-travelled Nicke Kabamba, who never quite made the grade in a couple of spells in the EFL and the SPL but has been prolific in Barnet colours, with seven league goals so far this season in just seven starts (plus two from the bench). Callum Stead also has seven and will also need to be watched closely.
The last time the sides met was in the 2017/18 season which saw the Bees relegated back into non-league, and a City side that made their second successive playoff final appearance proved too strong with 2-1 wins in both fixtures. There has been one meeting in the FA Cup, but there will be very few people who’d remember it given it took place in November 1948, with City travelling to Underhill and emerging 6-2 winners.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Lee Swabey
Assistant Referees: Dean Treleaven and Samuel Fudge
Fourth Official: Adam Wilson
Lee Swabey was the fourth official in the last home game, against Reading. The last time he took charge of an Exeter game was in April 2022 which was the 2-1 win over Barrow for which Exeter clinched promotion to League One.
Interview with Gary Caldwell
Interview with Jay Bird
