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Hereford defeated by Barnet
291 Hereford fans will be disappointed by the team's performance today after losing 2 - 1 to Barnet. The Bees took the lead after four minutes. After Baker had saved a penalty, Parry equalised just before half time. Poor defending by the Bulls allowed Barnet to win in the second half.
Bulls stung by Barnet
Bees
Barnet
2 - 1 Hereford United
Junior Agogo was an injruy doubt in the
Barnet attack before this action-packed match, but came
on as a half time substitute to condemn Hereford United
to their third defeat in four matches, and dent the
Bulls' promotion hopes.
Graham Turner reverted his Hereford team to a five-man defence with Tony James returning to the starting eleven as Rob Purdie dropped to the bench. John Grant was still missing through suspension, so Steve Guinan was the only recognised attacker in the starting eleven for the second game running.
After just four minutes, Barnet's Neil Midgley opened the scoring. A long throw was poorly defended and Midgley struck from twelve yards out to send the Bees into the ascendancy as they attacked downhill in the first half. A quiet period then followed, until Paul Parry levelled things on twenty minutes. Barnet failed to clear a United throw-in, and Parry hit an angled shot into the far corner from the left of the area.
From then on, it was end-to-end actionb as United's Matt Clarke drilled a forceful header inches over the crossbar, and at the other end Mark Gower's left-footed drive missed the target by about a yard. Clarke also turned a Steve Guinan ball home, but was clearly in an offside position when doing so.
With six minutes of the half remaining, Ben Smith brought down Keith Rowland in the United area. Referee Mr. Probert had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but Matt Baker pushed away the Wayne Purser penalty to make his second spot-kick save in as many matches.
Barnet, under the caretaker management of Martin Allen, sent on eighteen-goal striker Junior Agogo at the break and although United had the best of the second period, it was the home side who found the only goal. Mark Gower beat the offside trap and squared the ball to Agogo, who fired home at the far post to give Barnet the lead. The goal came six minutes after Steve Guinan had missed a wonderful opportunity for Hereford, when he struck the ball over the crossbar from close range when it looked easier to score.
The 291 Hereford fans became agitated with their side, who couldn't find the goal despite pressuring Danny Naisbitt on several occasions, and the result damages United's play-off hopes. They are now four points behind Morecambe in fifth, and need to collect all three points against Margate next Saturday to keep the season alive.
Graham Turner reverted his Hereford team to a five-man defence with Tony James returning to the starting eleven as Rob Purdie dropped to the bench. John Grant was still missing through suspension, so Steve Guinan was the only recognised attacker in the starting eleven for the second game running.
After just four minutes, Barnet's Neil Midgley opened the scoring. A long throw was poorly defended and Midgley struck from twelve yards out to send the Bees into the ascendancy as they attacked downhill in the first half. A quiet period then followed, until Paul Parry levelled things on twenty minutes. Barnet failed to clear a United throw-in, and Parry hit an angled shot into the far corner from the left of the area.
From then on, it was end-to-end actionb as United's Matt Clarke drilled a forceful header inches over the crossbar, and at the other end Mark Gower's left-footed drive missed the target by about a yard. Clarke also turned a Steve Guinan ball home, but was clearly in an offside position when doing so.
With six minutes of the half remaining, Ben Smith brought down Keith Rowland in the United area. Referee Mr. Probert had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but Matt Baker pushed away the Wayne Purser penalty to make his second spot-kick save in as many matches.
Barnet, under the caretaker management of Martin Allen, sent on eighteen-goal striker Junior Agogo at the break and although United had the best of the second period, it was the home side who found the only goal. Mark Gower beat the offside trap and squared the ball to Agogo, who fired home at the far post to give Barnet the lead. The goal came six minutes after Steve Guinan had missed a wonderful opportunity for Hereford, when he struck the ball over the crossbar from close range when it looked easier to score.
The 291 Hereford fans became agitated with their side, who couldn't find the goal despite pressuring Danny Naisbitt on several occasions, and the result damages United's play-off hopes. They are now four points behind Morecambe in fifth, and need to collect all three points against Margate next Saturday to keep the season alive.
Written by Terry Goodwin - 22nd March
2003.
| Barnet | Hereford United |
| Danny Naisbitt | Matt Baker |
| Craig Pope | Matt Clarke |
| Lee Flynn | Michael Rose |
| Greg Heald (captain) | Tony James |
| Lee Pluck | Ian Wright (captain) |
| Guy Butters | Andy Tretton |
| Keith Rowland | Danny Williams (off, 78 minutes) |
| Mark Gower | Steve Guinan |
| Frazer Toms (off, 62 minutes) | Ben Smith |
| Wayne Purser (off, half time) | Jamie Pitman |
| Neil Midgley | Paul Parry |
| Subs | Subs |
| Ricky Millard | Rob Purdie (on, 78 minutes) |
| Junior Agogo (on, half time) | Ken Griffiths |
| Matt Langston (on, 62 minutes) | Rob Sawyers |
| Bai-Mass | Justin Rowe |
| Chris Cashman | Richard Teesdale |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Greg Heald (unsporting behaviour, 44 minutes) | Ben Smith (44 minutes, unsporting behaviour) |
| Guy Butters (foul, 62 minutes) | Tony James (foul, 71 minutes) |
| Lee Flynn (foul, 70 minutes) | |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Neil Midgley (4 minutes) | Paul Parry (20 minutes) |
| Junior Agogo (67 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Michael Rose |
| Attendance | 1588 |
| Referee | Mr. L. Probert (Bridgwater) |