In a game of little flowing football Barnet came away with a 1-1 draw and a point at the Moss Rose against Macclesfield. Perhaps after the euphoria of the 3-1 victory over Northampton the last time out such an outcome may come as a tad deflating, but seen in the wider context the Bees have brought home four points from two consecutive away fixtures, a more than reasonable haul.
John O'Flynn was selected by manager Ian Hendon in an otherwise unchanged line-up from the team that won at Sixfields the previous Friday.
In the 6th minute, after a penetrating run by Albert Adomah, Yannick Bolasie's right foot effort was marginally wide of the target. It was an early opportunity for the Bees to take an early advantage.
But it was the Silkmen who took the lead as the bulky Ricky Sappleton swivelled and turned and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box into the corner of the net with 13 minutes on the clock.
Later in the first half Paul Furlong had an opportunity inside the box and Micah Hyde hit a post, all after Mark Hughes had a penalty claim denied when he was seemingly floored when about to shoot.
Adomah was replaced in the first half with a suspected broken nose, Albert Jarrett coming off the bench and taking up a position on the left wing with Bolasie switching sides.
With five minutes remaining of the half O'Flynn on the right delivered a peach of a cross into the danger area that Paul Morgan , the Macclesfield skipper and central defender could only head into his own net to bring the scores level at half time.
The Bees had a large slice of the play in the second period without carving out too many goalscoring opportunities and with only moments remaining Clovis Kamdjo needed to be alert to make a goal line clearance and Jake Cole pushed away a well struck effort from substitute John Rooney.
The Barnet players put in a good shift and their reward was to extend their unbeaten run and add a point to their tally.
Post match Ian Hendon did not make out a case for his side to have won the game, rather he was satisfied to have come to a place where Barnet have not enjoyed many favourable results in recent years and left with a point in his pocket.
Had the Barnet players not shown resolution in all areas of the pitch this is a game that the home side could have won. They play a direct style with a lot of focus of making the most of restarts, all facets of the game that Barnet dealt with more than adequately.
Not a classic, with perhaps the tone being set when the match programmes failed to arrive, and whilst the game may not live too long in the memory the point on the board will most certainly be there come the end of the season.
The Bees play hosts to Bradford City this Saturday.
David Bloomfield.
