From The Archives - Hereford 4 Barnet 0

With Barnet visiting Edgar Street on Saturday BN looks back to November 2002 when the Bulls defeated the Bees 4-0.

Saturday 30th November - (3pm kick-off) - Nationwide Conference league match

Four goals get United going

Hereford United 4 - 0 Barnet

It's been a long time coming, but Hereford United gained their first league win in seven and they did it in style.

Barnet were the visitors at Edgar Street, and were duly overturned by a five-star United performance which included a hatrick from attacker Steve Guinan.

Manager Graham Turner made a bold move before the game. reverting to a 4-4-2 formation and dropping captain Ian Wright in the process. Danny Williams missed out with a knee injury, allowing Ben Smith to make his first start in United colours and John Grant to push into attack, leaving Paul Parry free on the left wing.

Barnet, managed by former Tottenham Hotspur Peter Shreeves, were two places above Hereford in the league but tonight lie below Hereford on goal difference.

It took just four minutes for Hereford to break the deadlock as Paul Parry fired a cross in front of defender Craig Pope over from the left for Guinan to head home at the near post.

The away side had few efforts, as Greg Heald headed over a corner from Mark Gower, and Ben Strevens also missed the target on another occasion. Paul Parry, at the other end on twenty four minutes, knocked over another cross from the left for Ben Smith to smash home from twelve yards to double the Hereford advantage.

Seven minutes later, it was 3-0. A John Grant shot was deflected over, and from the corner, taken by Mick Galloway, was headed down on the far post six yards out by Guinan.

After the break, Barnet made three changes in quick succession to stimulate some life into their team, but to no avail. Junior Agogo tested United stopper Matt Baker with a couple of chances by Hereford were brimming with confidence. It came as no surprise when Guinan headed home another Parry cross for the fourth on sixty four minutes, in what was a near replica of the first goal.

From then on, United continued to pressurise. Parry tested goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt, Michael Rose tried his luck from long range and, in the last minute, Ben Strevens' shot for a Barnet goal was stopped easily by Baker.

The change to 4-4-2 appeared to work well for United, as Parry was free to run the left flank and create three of Hereford's four goals. Everyone played well, to the extent that Barnet boss Shreeves labelled Tony James as the best defender in the Conference. Guinan's hatrick makes him top scorer this season with six goals, which really outlines Hereford's scoring difficultues.

There was no problem this afternoon though, as a first class performance swept aside Barnet.

Hereford United: Matt Baker, Matt Clarke, Michael Rose, Andrew Tretton, Tony James (captain), Ben Smith, Jamie Pitman, Mick Galloway, Steve Guinan, John Grant (off, 72 minutes), Paul Parry.
Subs: Rob Sawyers, Ken Griffiths, Rob Purdie (on, 72 minutes), Richard Teesdale, Ian Wright
Scorers:Steve Guinan (4, 31, 64 minutes) Ben Smith (24 minutes)
Man of the Match: Paul Parry
Attendance: 1471
Referee: Mr. S. Brand (Wirral)

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