In March 2002, Barnet met Hereford United at Underhill in the Nationwide Conference. Hereford were 6th in the table and had a chance of the play-offs and a shot at returning to the football league. Barnet were 10th in the table and heading for mid table safety with nothing much to play for.
Martin Allen had just replaced Peter Shreeves as caretaker manager following the away match at Morecambe a week previously and had taken charge for the first time in the home game against Southport, the Tuesday before the game with Hereford. Barnet had won the Southport match 3-1 with two goals for Neil Midgley and one for Wayne Purser to give Allen a winning start. That match had also been the last match for Bees’ midfield player, John Doolan who had left the day after to join Conference promotion hopefuls, Doncaster Rovers. The match also saw the first Barnet appearance of centre back, Guy Butters who was on loan from Brighton.
For the match against Hereford, Barnet’s leading scorer, Junior Agogo, who had scored 18 goals so far that season, was on the bench alongside another new loan signing, Matt Langston who was on loan from Watford.
Barnet started the game with three centre backs in front of goalkeeper, Danny Naisbitt; Butters, skipper, Greg Heald and Lee Pluck in a 3-5-2 formation with Craig Pope and Lee Flynn playing as wing backs. Mark Gower, Frazer Toms and Keith Rowland, recently arrived from Cambridge United reserves completed the midfield with Wayne Purser and Neil Midgley up front.
Both sides started brightly with a cross from Mark Gower finding Lee Flynn who blazed over the bar for the Bees. Steve Guinan then did the same for the Bulls and Danny Williams saw his weak shot comfortably saved by Naisbitt.
Barnet took the lead in the 4th minute with Neil Midgley continuing where he had left off against Southport by stroking the ball home following a long throw in by Lee Flynn. The goal gave the Bees the confidence to take the game to Hereford with Gower and Rowland controlling the central midfield. However, Hereford equalised against the run of play when their exciting winger, Paul Parry, found space on the edge of the box and hit a fine shot into the far corner of the net past Naisbitt. Parry had given Craig Pope the run around earlier in the season when Hereford hammered Barnet 4-1 at Edgar Street and the young Barnet full back was finding him a handful again.
However, Barnet continued to look the better side with Mark Gower, in particular, standing out. He twice came close to scoring in the first half; firstly sending a free kick just over the bar and then hitting a dipping shot just wide of the post.
Just before half time, Barnet were awarded a penalty when Hereford midfield player, Ben Smith fouled Neil Midgley. However, Wayne Purser saw his penalty well saved by Bulls’ keeper, Matt Baker, who pushed the ball away for a corner. Purser was replaced at half time by Junior Agogo. It was to be the last time Purser played for Barnet as he joined Leyton Orient the following week along with Bees’ skipper, Greg Heald.
HT: Bees 1 Bulls 1
Hereford came out strongly in the second half and Williams’ dipping shot was saved by Naisbitt, while Smith then blazed over. However, Barnet came more into the game and were rewarded when Junior Agogo put the Bees ahead with a superb goal. Keith Rowland, showing great vision, hit a glorious past onto the left wing for Mark Gower, whose cross was met by Agogo who shot home from close range
Barnet should have made it 3-1 when a fine through ball by Gower found Midgley but he shot straight at Baker. Hereford pressed hard for an equaliser, but Barnet held on to give Martin Allen his second win in two matches. They turned out to be the only wins barnet gained under Allen until the end of the season when he was confirmed as full time manager. Barnet finished the season in 11th place, while Hereford missed out on the play-offs, finishing 6th. Most of the Barnet players had gone by the beginning of the following season with Allen carrying out major changes in the squad.
FT: Bees 2 Bulls 1
Barnet: Naisbitt; Pluck, Heald, Butters; Pope, Gower, Rowland, Toms (Langston 62), Flynn; Midgley, Purser (Agogo 45).
Hereford: Baker; Wright, James, Tretton; Clarke, Williams (Purdie 79), Smith, Pitman, Rose; Guinan, Parry.
Attendance: 1588.
