Devera’s dismissal helps Bulls to away points

9:57am Thursday 23rd August 2007

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Barnet 1 Hereford United 2 HEREFORD'S first away goals since early March earned them a first away win of the season in controversial style at Under-hill.

In a game of seven yellow cards and one red, referee Gavin Ward awarded a debatable penalty to Hereford and also helped the Bulls' cause by dismissing home defender Joe Devera in somewhat dubious circumstances.

United defender Dean Beckwith was more than happy with the win, however.

"We came here to get three points and, after a decent point last week, that is what we did," said the centre-back. "It gives us a good platform to kick on from next week against Rochdale.

"This is always a difficult place to come and the conditions were quite difficult. They started quickly and we did not start as quickly as we should have but we had a bit of luck with the sending-off and the penalty and after that we took control of the game."

Hereford made a sluggish start and were punished after 11 minutes when Jason Puncheon seized on the loose ball after a good tackle by Karl Broadhurst denied Adam Birchall.

Puncheon's powerful drive flashed past Wayne Brown and into the roof of the net.

The dismissal of Devera six minutes later echoed Beckwith's own dismissal at the Bescot Stadium at the end of last season when he and Trevor Benjamin, then a Walsall player, fell over each other.

On this occasion, Benjamin hit the deck about 25 yards out as he and Devera chased a through-ball which the big striker had no realistic chance of gathering.

"Sometimes a sending-off can change a game," said Beckwith. "After I was sent off at Walsall, they scored and went on to win but here it was us who went on to do the same."

With Hereford taking charge, an equaliser seemed sure to come but, when it did, referee Ward's decision, although upsetting the home team and their fans, was backed by Beckwith.

"Toumani Diagouraga got a flick-on at the near post and their player's hands were above his head," said the Bulls defender. "You can't do that anymore and in my opinion it was a penalty."

Benjamin reinforced his position as the Barnet supporters' public enemy No 1 by crashing home the penalty.

Hereford survived a lively Barnet opening to the second-half before taking the lead with one of the best moves of the match.

Richard Rose slipped a pass through to Ben Smith whose cross was cracked against a post by Benjamin but the ball fell conveniently for Theo Robinson to run his first league goal into an empty net.

"It was a good poacher's goal and a great move, to be fair - Smudger made a great run into the box, Rosey found him, Benjy hit the post and Theo was there at the far post - he'll take 10 of those a season," said Beckwith. United had chances to extend their lead after that, particularly when Robinson glanced a Clint Easton free-kick wide from a great position.

But Barnet finished strongly and United were glad to get to the end of the seven minutes' added time unscathed.

"If you are 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go, Barnet are always going to throw everything forward here," said Beckwith. "We needed the third goal to kill it off but although we didn't get it we held on for the win."

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Rose; Ainsworth, Diagouraga, Smith (Taylor, 72 min), Easton; Benjamin (Guinan, 72 min), Robinson (Gwynne, 88 min). Subs not used: Ingham, McCombe.

Barnet: Harrison; Hendon, Leary, Burton, Nicolau; Porter, Carew (Seanla, 75 min), Leary, Puncheon; Thomas, Birchall (Hatch, 75 min). Subs not used: Beckwith, Hart, Cole.

Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Attendance: 1,790.

Red card: Barnet - Devera, 18 mins, professional foul.

Yellow cards: Hereford - Smith, foul, 14 min; Guinan, foul, 90 min; Gwynne, handball, 90 min; Barnet - Hendon, kicking ball away, 42 min; Burton, foul, 71 min; Thomas, foul, 90 min; Hatch, foul, 90 min.

Goals: Puncheon, 11 min, 1-0; Benjamin, 43 min, 1-1; Robinson, 66 min, 1-2.