Grazioli is back on target for promotion

He may have scored just once in 12 matches, but Barnet striker Giuliano Grazioli is a relieved man. The 29-year-old ended his barren spell and clinched a place in the Nationwide Conference play-offs with a 58th-minute strike against Leigh last Saturday.

It was the latest twist in a topsy-turvy season for Grazioli who chalked up 25 goals by the end of January before losing his scoring touch.

Now, with confidence restored, the Finchley-born forward is determined to fire his club into the Football League.

Ahead of tonight's semi-final first leg at home to Shrewsbury, Grazioli said: "Twelve games is a very long time for any forward, especially the way I was going. I was scoring almost a goal a game.

"The half-chances just stopped running for me which was really frustrating. It is without doubt a confidence thing. If I don't score in one game, I am not happy, let alone 12. I am the sort of player who would rather score goals and play badly so the relief on Saturday was unbelievable."

Grazioli is no stranger to the big occasion, having starred for Stevenage during their 1998 FA Cup run which ended in a fourth-round replay defeat by Newcastle. He joined Barnet from Bristol Rovers last summer after a miserable spell under Ray Graydon at the Memorial Ground.

The striker said: "Bristol Rovers was the worst year of my life. I hated every minute of it. If I'd had enough money left in the bank I would have quit football. It was down to the manager. One minute I was scoring goals before Christmas and the next I was dropped - for no apparent reason. I'd had enough."

But his football career was rescued by former Barnet manager Martin Allen who agreed to a swap deal for Junior Agogo. He has since signed a new two-year contract.

Grazioli was a key part of Barnet's transformation from also-rans to promotion contenders under Allen. He, like the rest of the squad, was shocked to learn of his mentor's switch to Brentford, which heralded the arrival of Paul Fairclough last March.

Many Barnet fans were upset by the timing of Allen's departure, but Grazioli does not blame him.

He added: "Martin got the best out of me, but these things happen in football. If another club in London came in for me with a lot of money, then I'd have to consider it, so you can understand his decision.

"As a player you want to progress in your career and it's the same for managers. He obviously thought it was a good opportunity and he's done very well at Brentford."