A Jason Norville strike was all Barnet had to show for their fine effort as they drew with Stockport County at Edgeley Park this afternoon.
Despite dominating for large periods of play, the Bees failed to get the winning goal thanks to some inspired goalkeeping by County's James Spencer.
Both teams were looking to impress early on with the game being broadcast live on television but it was Barnet who looked the more likely to get the games opening goal when Ben Strevens just failed to connect to a fine Louis Soares cross in the opening three minutes.
However, with their first real attack of the game the home side were to take the lead against the run of play.
Fine wing play in the 15th minute by County's leading scorer Jermaine Easter saw the tall front man cross low into the Barnet box and as the ball fizzled across the 6 yard line, former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Matthew Hamshaw arrived on cue at the back post to fire past Ross Flitney in the Barnet goal.
Hamshaw gives County the lead
It was a fine move by the home side, although Barnet will be disappointed to have conceded the lead after dominating the early stages of the game.
However, Paul Fairclough's side did not let their heads drop and responded in the best way possible by scoring the equaliser just three minutes later.
Louis Soares, who had made a fine start to the game, beat Mark Robinson on the left wing, before crossing low into the County box where Jason Norville was waiting. The former Watford striker made no mistake from 10 yards out as his fine left footed strike nestled into the bottom right hand corner of Spencer's goal.
Norville celebrates equaliser
Barnet were not content to sit back and continued to push forward in numbers in search of taking the lead before half time.
Soares and Strevens both saw long range efforts just go over the bar, whilst a deep cross from Ian Hendon was headed just wide by Liam Hatch at the back post.
The Bees were really pushing the home side back and were looking the more likely to take the lead with County struggling to retain possession of the ball and Strevens very nearly gave them that lead 10 minutes before half time.
A low free kick into the box found by Hendon found Ismail Yakubu who saw his effort blocked by Michael Raynes but the ball rebounded to Strevens who saw his clipped effort tipped over the bar by Spencer.
Soares took the resulting corner, which curled viciously towards the goal but Norville saw his flicked header just miss the angle of post and bar.
As half time approached, Hatch could have given Barnet the lead on two occasions but his first effort, from a Norville cross, saw the tall striker shoot inches wide of Spencer's right hand post and then moments later a fine volleyed effort from 25 yards flashed just wide.
Hatch presses for the ball
The second half was a more even affair, although both sides had good chances to win the game.
Almost immediately after the break, Simon King headed a Soares corner just wide, whilst at the other end Harpal Singh failed to test Flitney after good work by Hamshaw on the County right.
King wins the header
However, the Bees then came the closest to scoring just moments later when they hit the bar. A corner from the right by Soares saw Strevens head across goal, Hatch rose at the back post to head back towards Strevens and the Bees longest serving player saw his header clip the top of Spencer's bar and go to safety.
Nicky Bailey and Soares had further efforts that missed the County goal, whilst the home saw shots from Danny Boshell, Keith Briggs and Hamshaw sail harmlessly wide.
Ross Flitney then made a fine save at the feet of Easter, who saw his close range effort blocked by the tall Barnet keeper.
Dean Sinclair, Soares and Hatch had chances to win it for the Bees, whilst Easter saw another effort deflected wide of Flitney's goal. However, both sides left EdgeleyPark with a point apiece in front of County's biggest crowd of the season - 6,056.
Fairclough thanks the travelling Barnet fans
Next up for Barnet is a home game against bottom-of-the-table Torquay United - Underhill, Saturday 19 November, kick-off 3 p.m.
By Jonathan Sugar
