Nicky Bailey's second half header earnt Barnet a share of the points after drawing 1-1 with Notts County at Meadow Lane on Tuesday.
Barnet made two changes to the starting line-up from the one that played in the FA Cup against Plymouth Argyle with Robert Burch making his debut in goal in place of groin injury victim Ross Flitney, whilst Adam Gross returned at left back in place of Nicky Nicolau who dropped down to the bench.
It was the Bees who made the brighter start with the hosts unable to get out of their own half in the opening to the game.
And it was Paul Fairclough's side who nearly took the lead in the 12th minute when a long ball forward by Nicky Bailey saw Notts County goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington rush off his line, and although he managed to head the ball away ahead of Adam Birchall, the ball fell to Andy Hessenthaler but, from all of 40 yards out, his high effort was headed away in front of the post by Mike Edwards although Pilkington appeared to have the ball covered.
A minute later and Pilkington did well to punch the ball away ahead of Ismail Yakubu following an in-swinging free kick from the right by Jason Puncheon looked to be landing straight onto the head of the Bees centre back.
With 16 minutes gone though Barnet were to concede a penalty when a long ball forward by Dan Martin was flicked on by Jason Lee, into the path of Andy Parkinson. The pacy front man turned back on his right foot before being tripped in the area by Adam Gross.
Up stepped Lawrie Dudfield but Burch managed to save the low penalty. However, much to the amazement of both sets of players, the referee ordered the spot-kick be re-taken after the assistant referee adjudged the Bees keeper came off of his line before the kick was taken. Second time around Dudfield made no mistake sending Burch the wrong way and powering the ball home into the Bees keeper's bottom right hand corner.
The goal seemed to inspire the home side and they began to get more into the game with Lee seeing his strike from distance go over the bar after Martin won the ball in the midfield ahead of Bailey.
Barnet were to concede their second penalty of the game in the 36th minute when Gross was beaten on the right and he dragged down Parkinson in the penalty area after the Bees left back was caught out on the wrong side of the County striker.
Dudfield stepped up once more but blasted his penalty straight at the crossbar with Bailey able to clear the subsequent rebound to safety.
Jay Smith then tried his luck from 20 yards, but Burch was equal to the effort.
Notts County began the second half brightly and they nearly went 2-0 ahead in the first minute after the resumption when Lee volleyed wide 10 yards out following a Smith free kick.
Parkinson then drove straight at Burch after King was caught in possession before Graham saw his weak effort saved by Pilkington at the other end in the 56th minute.
Martin then saw his 25 yard free kick go straight at Burch ten minutes later as the Bees struggled to create a great deal in the final third.
Smith's clever hooked effort went just wide of Burch's right hand post in the 69th minute, whilst a minute later Birchall had a great chance for the Bees when he received the ball from Bailey, but with just Pilkington to beat, his first time effort was held low to his left by the Magpies goalkeeper.
Puncheon then shot straight at Pilkington in the 72nd minute as Barnet began to look more dangerous going forward before Bailey saw his 25 yard free kick from the left deflect just wide for a corner kick a minute later.
And from that set piece the Bees were to level the scores when Devera met Puncheon's out-swinging corner from the left, at the back post, where Bailey nodded in from six yards to bring the Bees back into the game.
Bailey then shot wide for Barnet in the 82nd minute as both sides looked to win the game in a frantic end to proceedings.
Puncheon was then replaced by Oliver Allen two minutes later for the Bees as they set out to win the game.
Parkinson saw his drive for the home side go over in the 89th minute whilst Mendes shot wide in the third minute of added time.
Moments later the referee signalled an end to the game as both sides had to settle for a point apiece.
Attendance:3010
Away:143
By Jonathan Sugar
