Unable to capitalise on a dream start, Hereford conceded an equaliser just before the interval, and then handed all three points to relegation-threatened Barnet in an abject second half capitulation. With Joe Heath missing (stomach upset), both Rob Purdie and Nicky Featherstone started, with Jimmy McQuilkin dropping to the bench.
In what was to prove a false dawn, Bulls fans had their one chance to be impressed before the second hand had completed its first 360 degree sweep. Stuart Fleetwood went to claim a ball played in from the left flank, but checked as he saw Richard Rose in prime position for an attempt on goal. Rose, fully 25 yards out, hit a tremendous shot that dipped under the bar, giving Jake Cole no chance.
Players celebrating Rose's goal - pictures from Andy Compton of the Hereford JournalThe confidence this gave the home side was palpable. Fleetwood almost played Waide Fairhurst in, and Featherstone’s imaginative through ball was just too strong for Fleets. Jordan Parkes’s weak back header seemed destined for the Boy from Newent before Clovis Kamdjo made a rather fortuitous interception. Kenny Lunt headed a chance against the bar, and shortly afterwards did well to retain possession in the area, but could not pick out a colleague.
A shell-shocked Barnet slowly emerged from their shell. Kamdjo’s header from busy Bee Mark Marshall’s corner was well saved by Adam Bartlett. Unnecessary fouls by the home defence led to further scares, notably when Jordan Parkes had a shot blocked and it seemed an age before a Hereford boot ended the pinball session. Parkes also flicked a cross onto the roof of Bartlett’s net, and Izale McLeod hit a tame shot wide when well placed. At the other end, Featherstone’s astute flick found Lunt unmarked, but Cole was out quickly to foil the advance.
Joe Colbeck’s pace was evident at times, though his final delivery did not threaten, and the forward line as a whole seemed slow to react to chances. A raking cross by the influential Mark Byrne bounced dangerously across the box before Purdie deflected it to safety. Purdie then made a hash of a clearance, but recovered to play a peach of a pass to Colbeck out wide, although once again, a cross was not forthcoming. As half time was in sight, home fans reflected on the Bulls’inability to press home their early advantage. Matters, however, were about to take a turn for the worse. Inexplicably, Sam Deering was allowed time and space to run clean through the heart of the defence, and slip the ball to McLeod, who accepted the chance to equalise.
HT: HUFC 1 BARNET 1
Fleetwood in mid-air - note Hereford's coaching staff in the away dug-out this week Paul Fairclough’s half time team talk seemed to have the desired effect. By contrast, Hereford turned in a performance rarely seen since the Davey era. Ironically, it was after the reverse fixture at Underhill that a change in management brought about a significant improvement in the Bulls’ fortunes. Barnet set about gaining all three points, whilst the home side seemed slow by comparison, with possession given away very easily, aimless long balls pumped forward and some alarming lapses of concentration at the back.
Byrne’s cross found the tricky, determined Marshall, but this time he was guilty of over-elaboration. McLeod seemed to handle before playing a return pass to Byrne, whose clever cut back was hacked clear by Rose. Again, McLeod evaded all attempts to tackle him and he fired narrowly over. In rapid succession, Byrne and Marshall then had shots beaten out by Bartlett as the Bees began to dominate. Indeed, it came as no surprise that, with 78 minutes gone, they gained what was, for them a critical, and well-deserved lead. The manner of the goal rather summed up Hereford’s feeble second half showing. A harmless through ball from Marshall should have been cut out, but Jan Kovacs and Ryan Green seemed to leave it for each other, and a grateful and alert McLeod was on hand to chip Bartlett for his, and his side’s second goal.
New signing Adrian Patulea came on as a sub Other than a Michael Townsend header which Cole pushed round a post, Hereford looked unlikely to trouble the scorer, and Kovacs’s moves up front smacked of desperation. Indeed, the visitors came close to causing further embarrassment on a number of occasions. Kovacs hit a crossfield pass that was intercepted by the tiny sub Mauro Vilete, on for the equally diminutive Deering. He wasted what was a great opportunity. Bartlett’s hopeless clearance left Green in no-man’s land, and Charlie Taylor only had to touch it to McLeod to complete his hat trick. However, the home custodian made amends for his mistake with a spirited block. Finally, Townsend played a poor back pass that lacked pace, but again the chance went begging.
A shapeless, disjointed performance from the Bulls left the home supporters distinctly unimpressed. A Barnet side fighting for their lives completed the double with some comfort in the end. Explaining another home disappointment when compared to the Bulls successful ventures on the road is becoming more and more difficult to fathom.
FT: HUFC 1 BARNET 2
Attendance: 2517, which includes 82 Bees (although whether the four member of the Metropolitan Police seen shepherding them prior to kick off are included, I am unsure.)
HUFC: Bartlett, Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Purdie, Colbeck, Rose, Featherstone (Ngo Baheng 83), Lunt (McQuilkin 83), Fleetwood, Fairhurst (Patulea 66)
BARNET: Cole, Devera, Parkes, Kamdjo, Parsons, Hughes, Deering (Vilhete 77), Pulis (Cox 62), Marshall, Byrne (Taylor 85), McLeod.