Nicolau hits late winner for Bees

9:51pm Wednesday 30th January 2008

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FULL TIME: Hereford United 1 Barnet 2 . . .

Nicky Nicolau struck five minutes from time to give Barnet the points at Edgar Street tonight.

The midfielder hit only his second goal for the Bees to become the unlikely hero.

Albert Adomah had put the visitors in front with a goal on his debut, before Trevor Benjamin levelled to seemingly earn the hosts a share of the spoils.

But Paul Fairclough's troops were again good value for the win, matching their high-flying opponents in all departments.

Barnet made one change from the side that lost to Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup on Saturday, Adomah making his debut, with Ashley Carew dropping to the bench.

The game started slowly with little for either sets of fans to get excited about in the opening stages.

Adomah started brightly and put over a couple of decent crosses, but there was no one on the end of them.

The first shot came from Hereford's Theo Robinson after 14 minutes, but it lacked power and was straight at Lee Harrison.

At the other end, Neal Bishop thought he should have been awarded a penalty when he fell to the ground under challenge as he burst into the box, but nothing was given.

The first real chance of the game came on the half-hour, when Toumani Diagouraga saw Harrison pull off a fine stop to keep out his low shot on the turn. The ball was hit with so much power, it was still travelling slowly towards the goal after the Barnet keeper had got his hand to it, but Max Porter got back to clear before it could cross the line.

Barnet's first real opportunity came just three minutes later, Cliff Akurang putting Adomah through. The debutant chose to hit the ball early and his low drive across goal from outside the box finished just past the post. It was a good effort.

The game was at last coming to life, and Gary Hooper shot straight at Harrison after a surging run at the other end.

Both sides were trying their luck from distance, but the shooting was not of the highest quality.

Josh Wright had the final chance of the half, but his free-kick was easily held by Hereford keeper Wayne Brown, the first save he had to make.

The Bulls started the second half positively, with Simon Johnson seeing a shot flash across the face of the goal.

Within a couple of minutes, Ismail Yakubu rose to meet a Wright free-kick for Barnet, but his header was gathered by a diving Brown in the home goal.

The goal finally came on 52 minutes. Akurang saw a long-range shot hit Adomah on the edge of the box and the ball broke kindly for the latter. The debutant suddenly found himself with just the advancing Brown to beat some ten yards out. Adomah showed no nerves, coolly beating the keeper with a low shot that went in off the post.

Hereford responded by throwing on sub Trevor Benjamin and, with almost his first touch, he put the Bulls level. Chris Taylor whipped over a corner and the big striker rose at the near post to power home a header.

Yakubu then blocked a Benjamin shot as the Bulls sensed a winner.

However, the Bees did well to steady the ship and, on 75 minutes, Yakubu found himself up front and in a good position, but he screwed his shot horribly wide.

Hereford were doing most of the pressing, but Barnet still looked capable of getting something on the break.

And, five minutes from time, sub Adam Birchall crossed for Bishop at the near post. He did well to get a shot in, which Brown could only push out to Nicolau, who steadied himself before converting the rebound with his right foot, slotting the ball into a near empty net from ten yards.

BARNET (4-5-1): Harrison; Porter, Devera, Yakubu, Gillet; Adomah (Carew 84), Wright, Bishop, Nicolau, Puncheon; Akurang (Birchall 82). Subs not used: Trebes, Hendon, Thomas.

Attendance: 2,271.