HEREFORD lost the one game they really did not want to lose as they turned on a dreadful display at Edgar Street.

After a dream start when Richard Rose fired them in front inside the first minute, Hereford collapsed with some inept defending and weak passing which thrusts them back into trouble at the foot of the table.

A victory for Hereford would, more or less, have made them safe, but now Barnet, who would have been buried with a defeat, are now back in to the mix.

With Joe Heath ruled out by a stomach upset, Rob Purdie returned to the Bulls line-up at left-back.

And boss Jamie Pitman recalled Nicky Featherstone for his first start since January in place of James McQuilkin.

Barnet included former Bulls loanee Mark Marshall on their left flank.

Hereford were in front inside the first minute.

Richard Rose let fly with a dipping volley from 30 yards and the ball screamed past Jake Cole and into the top corner of the net.

Hereford maintained their attacking momentum and forced their first corner after 10 minutes.

Kenny Lunt’s cross reached Joe Colbeck whose first-time shot flew a long way wide.

Stuart Fleetwood tricked his way along the bye-line shortly afterwards and almost nicked the ball past Cole who just managed to get a block in.

Lunt almost added a second on 15 minutes when he reached a Colbeck cross but his header came back off the bar.

Barnet gradually worked their way back into the game and forced a corner on 20 minutes.

Marshall’s cross picked out Clovis Kamdjo whose powerful header was brilliantly saved by Adam Bartlett.

Hereford hit back and Fleetwood received an astute pass from Colbeck to race into the area.

Cole, however, was swiftly off his line to foil the United top scorer.

Barnet continued to push forward in search of an equaliser and Bartlett reacted to punch away a fierce 25-yard drive by Jordan Parkes.

Cole, though, was swiftly back in the action diving at the feet of Lunt after a neat Hereford move had opened up the visiting defence.

Barnet forced another corner on 32 minutes and Joe Devera headed a Marshall corner just wide.

But Waide Fairhurst had a chance on 37 minutes when he was sent free by Rose’s pass only for Matthew Parsons to get back and dispossess him.

Colbeck then blazed high over after a quickly taken Fleetwood free-kick.

But, in the last minute of the half, Barnet grabbed an equaliser.

Lunt lost possession on the left and Simon Deering’s pass found Izale McLeod in the centre and he out-paced the Hereford defence to slot home.

Lunt should have made amends seconds later, heading wide unmarked from a Colbeck cross.

After a poor start to the second half when the quality of play plummeted, Hereford could have been awarded a penalty when Fairhurst was bundled over as he waited to challenge for a high ball.

Barnet’s immediate counter ended with Parsons blazing high over.

Then good defensive work by Purdie and Rose cleared up when Barnet cut through the Bulls defence again.

Hereford, despite the introduction of substitute Adrian Patulea, simply could not get hold of the ball to mount any meaningful attacks.

And Bartlett had to react quickly to field a long-range effort from Marshall.

The Bulls keeper then made two reaction saves in quick succession to deny Parsons and Marshall.

Hereford’s response was a free-kick by Lunt, headed weakly by Fleetwood straight at Cole.

And it was no surprise when Barnet took the lead 12 minutes from time.

McLeod was left completely in the clear by the Hereford defence and smashed home Marshall’s pass.

Hereford had a chance to level when Michael Townsend headed down to Janos Kovacs from a Purdie cross but the Hungarian blazed high over.

Hereford: Bartlett; Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Purdie; Colbeck, Rose, Featherstone (Baheng 83), Lunt (McQuilkin 83); Fairhurst (Patulea 66), Fleetwood. Subs not used: Hoult, Stratford, Preston, Thomas.

Barnet: Cole, Devera, Kamdjo, Parsons, Parkes; Deering (Vilhete 77), Hughes, Pulis (Cox 62), Marshall; McLeod, Byrne (Taylor 86). Subs not used: Yorke, Dunleaby, O’Brien, Fraser.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 2,517 (including 82 from Barnet).

Yellow cards: Hereford – Kovacs, foul, 15 min; Barnet – Parkes, foul, 54 min; Marshall, foul, 89 min.

Goals: Rose, 1 min, 1-0; McLeod, 45 min, 1-1; McLeod, 78 min, 1-2.