Bulls crash to third successive loss
9:35pm Wednesday 30th January 2008
Hereford United 1 Barnet 2
FORMER Hereford loan player Nicky Nicolau's goal five minutes from time sent the Bulls crashing to their third successive defeat.
A lively run by Barnet winger Albert Adomah inside the first 30 seconds threatened the Hereford defence in the early stages as his cross was well grasped by keeper Wayne Brown.
After that, there were few threats on goal for a prolonged period until Hereford top scorer Theo Robinson saw a low drive saved by Lee Harrison.
The Barnet keeper came to his side's rescue on 28 minutes when Toumani Diagouraga turned and shot following a good cross from Sam Gwynne.
Harrison got a good block to the ball and defender Max Porter completed the clearance by kicking the ball off the line.
A low drive by Adomah flashed past the upright as Barnet hit back and the visitors underlined their threat when a cross by Jason Puncheon evaded the entire home rearguard until Trent McClenahan booted the ball to safety.
Johnson and loan signing Gary Hooper had shots blocked or saved as Hereford went after the breakthrough but real chances continued to be hard to come by at both ends.
Brown saved well from an Ismail Yakubu header before the visitors took the lead six minutes into the second period.
Cliff Akurang's shot ricocheted conveniently into the path of Adomah who slipped the ball past Brown.
Hereford's prospects of getting back into the game looked grim for a while until a double substitution shook things up.
One replacement Kris Taylor delivered the corner for another, Trevor Benjamin, to head the equaliser.
The goal revitalised Hereford for a while but they were unable to make the best of their dominance and were made to pay five minutes from time.
A shot by Neal Bishop fell to the unmarked Nicolau and the former Hereford loanee easily beat Brown.
Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Broadhurst, Beckwith, Collins; Gwynne (Benjamin, 62 min), Smith, Diagouraga, Johnson (Taylor, 62 min); Hooper, Robinson. Subs not used: Ingham, Rose, MacLeod.
Barnet: Harrison; Porter, Devera, Yakubu, Gillet; Adomah (Carew, 84 min), Bishop, Puncheon, Wright, Nicolau; Akurang (Birchall, 82 min). Subs not used: Trebbes, Hendon, Thomas.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire).
Attendance: 2,271 (56 from Barnet) Goals: Adomah, 52 min, 0-1; Benjamin, 63 min, 1-1; Nicolau, 85 min, 1-2.