With Barnet coming to Edgar Street on Saturday, BN looks back to the 2001/02 season and Hereford United's first game of that campaign against Barnet.
Saturday August 18th: Hereford United 2 - 1 Barnet
The televised game meant a 12.05pm kick off, and the long, early trip for Barnet obviously didn't help their cause. The Bees also had the added handicap of being without John Doolan, Wayne Purser, and Frazer Toms, who were all ruled out with injuries. Graham Turner was without Hereford's first choice 'keeper Scott Cooksey (wrist) and player/coach Phil Robinson (wrist), whilst Matt Clarke, Rob Elmes, Gavin Williams and Jimmy Quiggin were fit enough for the game.
The last time the two sides met on the opening day of the season was August 1995. Chris MacKenzie, the United goalkeeper, scored as United won 4-1 in Graham Turner's first game in charge. Six years on, the game was played at a lower rung of the ladder and much has changed at both clubs since.
Balloons were released at the start of the game and red placards held up to the cameras by both sets of fans in protest of the FA and Football League's rejection of the second promotion place from the Conference.
The game started at 12.05pm and the relegated side were immediately on the attack, with the Hereford defence looking slightly disorganised and Barnet capitalising. Matt Baker saved well early on from Ben Strevens, and Barnet went extremely close to taking the lead when Neil Midgley hit a superb shot against the crossbar.
Hereford had to sharpen up as Barnet looked by far the better side. Scott Voice hit a close range effort at Lee Harrison, who tipped it over, soon after, but Voice appeared to require more time to settle at this level - two leagues above last season's opposition where he scored fourty seven goals for Bilston Town. Gavin Williams hit over the crossbar and Voice went close again, but Hereford couldn't find the killer touch.
Until the sixteenth minute, that is! John Snape netted Hereford's first goal of the season as his shot was wickedly deflected past Harrison to give United the lead. Barnet were stunned, and obviously hadn't recovered two minutes later. Young striker Gavin Williams received a superb pass from veteran midfielder Ian Rodgerson, went on a direct run and beat Harrison whilst one-on-one, slotting the ball sweetly into the net.
Within sixty seconds of the restart, Stuart Niven had set up a reply for Barnet. His cross from the right met Mark Gower, a former Tottenham trainee, who headed past Matt Baker from six yards out. The United side hadn't finished celebrating from their goal and the goal came somewhat unexpectedly.
Neil Midgley had two efforts which failed to trouble Matt Baker in the Hereford goal, and his third chance had to be hacked away by Matt Clarke, who put the ball behind for a corner. Ben Strevens went close when one-on-one with Baker, but failed to hit the target. Strevens and Midgley linked well for Barnet, whilst winger Paul Parry and striker Gavin Williams both looked impressive when attacking.
The second half started in the most dramatic fashion as after just thirteen seconds, Hereford were awarded a penalty. Lee Gledhill was judged to have handled a cross from Paul Parry, but Gavin Williams' effort was well saved by an agile Harrison in the Barnet goal.
With just over twenty minutes left, Rob Elmes was introduced for Scott Voice, and looked fitter than at the corresponding stage last season. However, despite the striker's introduction, Barnet went close when Strevens had a shot charged down by the United defence. The Barnet frontman, formerly of Finchley, went close again with five minutes to go as the Hereford defence looked stretched, but his effort went well wide.
Neil Midgley and Mark Gower both had chances in the closing stages but failed to hit the target, as Hereford United held out for three points.
Barnet's boss John Still must be disappointed as his side failed to collect a point, but can be encouraged by his side's performance. A crowd of 2,210 turned out for the game, perhaps slightly down because of the live television coverage. Nevertheless, three opening points on the board put Hereford top of the table for the first time in the Conference, albeit for three hours!
Text at top (next game etc)
Next: FA Cup Away At Sporting Khalsa On Tuesday 23rd September at 7.45pm
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