This coming Tuesday, Exiles will make the trip across the UK to London to take on Barnet at The Hive Stadium.
The Bees have made our lives difficult on our travels there, but our last visit in the FA Cup second round turned out to be more than worthwhile.
Coming into December, the 2015/16 season had been a topsy-turvy one. After a poor start under Terry Butcher, John Sheridan arrived to steady the ship in October, and he achieved just that. He lost just two of his opening ten games and took us on a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions heading into our clash with Barnet.
Our trip to North London presented us with the chance to reach the FA Cup third round for the first time since reforming in 1989, and fans were feeling optimistic following a 3-0 thrashing of Luton Town the week before.
Scott Boden and Llenell John-Lewis both came close to opening the scoring for us in the first half, firing close-range shots high over the bar into the terrace behind the goal.
The hosts nearly took the lead when Shaun Batt danced his way through the box, only for Joe Day to deny the striker at the near post.
The deadlock was broken 15 minutes into the second half. Andrew Hughes picked up the ball down the right-hand side and swung in a delightful cross, which was met by Scott Boden, who placed a pin-point header into the top corner, leaving Barnet's keeper, Jamie Stephens, helpless.
Barnet pushed for an equaliser. Kevin Lisbie connected with a dangerous Hakeem Odoffin cross, but the strike flew just wide.
We retaliated and nearly doubled our lead through John-Lewis. First, the striker met a cross at the back-post but couldn’t direct it goalwards, and then he fired a volley that was saved brilliantly by Stephens.
The game kept up a fast pace until the final whistle, and we held on for the 1-0 win. We would then draw Blackburn Rovers at Rodney Parade, where a late goal from Jordan Rhodes would see us exit despite a spirited performance.