| Hereford fail to see the funny side A daft goal proved decisive as the Football League's 91st and 92nd placed clubs met at UnderhillBarnet Council, in a booklet on cultural awareness published last week, banned mother-in-law jokes. Judging by the League Two table before kick-off the football club might have been next in need of protection, though it looks better today than it did then. A 2-0 win lifted them from last but one in the entire League to 89th. Hereford United remain 92nd.The joke was sadly on them. One down from the 14th minute, they were building pressure down the Underhill slope when Ryan Valentine passed back to Adam Bartlett and the goalkeeper kicked and missed. Practice swings are one thing, air shots another. This one counted heavily, costing all chance of a point or three as the ball curled over the line. "We had some momentum at the time; it took the sting out of the game," said Simon Davey, Hereford's manager. "I felt for him," said Barnet's Mark Stimson. "You never like to see that with a fellow professional."To make matters worse, Barnet's first goal was scored by Mark Marshall, who moved from Hereford in July and converted strong work by Steve Kabba. There is a history of movement between the clubs. If the law of the Ex had applied more extensively on Saturday, the score would have matched Accrington's 7-4 or Chesterfield's 5-5. With each side conceding four last Tuesday it looked on the cards anyway, though neither manager licked his lips too publicly in advance lest it smacked of the colander calling the sieve holey.In the event the defences held up well, which was particular credit to Barnet, who have lost two centre-backs until the new year and now introduced Grant Basey for a solid debut alongside Clovis Kamdjo. They gave Jake Cole in goal less to do than Bartlett, whose four fine saves made his gaffe all the more galling.Davey said his keeper was "distraught". He was not much more cheerful himself. "I'll go home to the family, pick up the paper tomorrow, see we lost 2-0, sulk for 24 hours, then go back to work on Monday and keep doing that until someone tells me not to." No doubt he was thinking of Leicester or possibly Graham Turner, who returned last March to add to his 723 games in charge and won seven of the last 10. Turner is now at Shrewsbury but Davey is entitled to unease. Soccerbase has not yet recognised his appointment in June.Stimson arrived at Barnet within a few days, Davey from Darlington, Stimson from Gillingham, both relegated last spring, each backing himself and modest resources to keep him in a League career. On the paper of nine matches this was the battle of the boobies. In April it would be a plummet meeting. Equally, when they meet again in March, it could be a so-called six-pointer for promotion. Barnet are now six points off the play-offs.Last season Hereford did not win until their eighth game and Barnet went 13 from Hallowe'en to February without victory. Ten years ago they enjoyed their biggest League victory, beating Blackpool 7-0. Teams at this level are a mix of older hands trying to slow the down escalator and young ones trying to run up the other. The manager's task is to find the chemistry and luck to give them belief and get the best out of them. Individual skills are abundant, cash is not.Stimson was pleased last week to sign Izale McLeod, a striking talent in League Two with MK Dons in 2007 but lately, like Basey, languishing at Charlton. He is recovering from a knee injury but raring to reinforce Kabba's physique and Phil Walsh's heading prowess. Mark Byrne's midfield energy and Marshall's left-wing darts stoked Barnet's fire. On a good day anyone might catch a scout's eye to leap up a division or two. Hereford's substitute Joe Colbeck sparkled on the right in his 20 minutes while Guillem Bauza, a Spanish stroller, rode the hurly-burly without complaint or as much effect as he might have created at a higher level.There is a charm to the game in the lower regions, an intimacy and sense of belonging long lost at Old Trafford. Bartlett, if he was not consoled by Paul Robinson, can console himself that his blooper was seen by only 225 Hereford followers, not a whole nation on TV. After the finish another game was taking place in the drizzle on an adjacent pitch – a level playing field – with four Barnet fathers and sons from six upwards emulating men they had been almost in touching distance of 15 minutes before. It was pure fun, dreaming for some and no place for mothers-in-law.BarnetHerefordLeague TwoJeremy Alexanderguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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