This Saturday, the 12th of February 2005, Barnet entertain Hereford, sitting at the top of the Conference, 15 points clear of Aldershot, with a game in hand, clear favourites to win promotion to the Football League, with Hereford lying seventh and hoping for a play-off spot.
Two years ago things for Hereford were much the same as they were chasing a play-off spot then too, but Barnet were lying in mid table and Bees fans had no hopes of promotion. However, these were still interesting times for the home fans as it was less than a week since manager, Peter Shreeves, had shocked the club with his resignation and coach, Martin Allen had taken control. In midweek, Barnet had beaten Southport 3-1 with 2 goals from Neil Midgley and one from Wayne Purser, so Allen had made a bright start, but Hereford looked a much tougher proposition from a side who were in free fall and would end the season being relegated.
Injury problems and lack of form had lead to Barnet signing two loan players, Guy Butters from Brighton and Matt Langston from Watford, and Keith Rowland, a Northern Ireland international, who had been playing with Cambridge United, had signed on a short term contract. All three had played against Southport and Butters and Rowland were included in the starting line up against Hereford.
Barnet got off to a bright start when Neil Midgley, playing up front after playing midfield, for most of the season, found space in the penalty area. Midgley miss-hit his shot but, luckily for Barnet, it skewed into the corner of the net passed a surprised Matt Baker to put Barnet one up.
Hereford equalised after 20 minutes, through the lively Paul Parry, though Craig Pope was finding him less of a handful than in the match at Hereford, the previous November, when Parry had torn Pope apart as Hereford hammered Barnet 4-0. Bees were then presented with a perfect opportunity to regain the lead when Midgley was fouled in the penalty area and the referee duly pointed to the spot. Wayne Purser took the penalty but it was a poor one hit to close to Baker who saved it. Purser and captain, Greg Heald were playing what turned out to be there last match for Barnet, as they were both transferred to Leyton Orient the following week for £18000.
Half-Time 1-1
The second half continued much as the first with Barnet having just the upper hand but Hereford looking dangerous on the break. Top scorer, Junior Agogo, surprisingly left out, came on to replace Midgley and half way through the second half, Barnet got the breakthrough. Keith Rowland pushing forward just inside his own half hit a glorious long ball across the pitch to Mark Gower who was wide on the left, Gower cut in and crossed the ball deep into the penalty area where it was met by Agogo, who had made an enormous amount of ground to get on the end of Gower’s cross and dispatch his shot past Baker to put Barnet ahead.
Barnet managed to control the rest of the game quite comfortably and ran out 2-1 winners to give Martin Allen his second win in his first two games in charge of the Bees. The rest of the season was disappointing for both sides, however, as Barnet’s form disintegrated and the club finished 12th, while Hereford too slumped and missed out on a play-off place.
For most of the players in the Barnet side their time at the club was rapidly coming to a close and by the time Barnet had kicked off the 2003-04 season only Naisbitt and Pluck were still at the club. Pluck left directly after the first game and within a couple of months Naisbitt, too, had left the club.
Tretton, James, Pitman and Williams remain at Hereford.
Teams: Barnet: Naisbitt, Pope, Butters, Pluck, Flynn, Heald, Gower, Rowland, Toms, Purser, Midgley (Agogo).
Hereford: Baker, Clarke, Tretton, Wright, James, Rose, Pitman, Smith, Williams, Parry, Guinan.