A very wet afternoon in North London saw Barnet and FC Halifax Town share the points as the two sides drew 0-0 in an entertaining game at the Hive Stadium, London.
Town Manager Pete Wild made one change to the side that won 1-0 away at Aldershot Town last weekend with Jamie Allen replacing the injured Matty Warburton.
The Shaymen were looking for a third away victory of the season and they started the game on the front foot. An early shot by Harvey Gilmour was blocked, the home side went up the other side and Ephron Mason-Clark went down in the box. There were a few appeals from his teammates and the Bees fans, but Referee Aaron Jackson wasn’t interested in their appeals and pointed for a goal kick.
Jordan Slew saw plenty of the ball in the first half, he went down the left-hand side and had Jack Senior on the overlap, but he chose to shoot from the edge of the box and his shot flew past the outstretched hand of Bees goalkeeper Sam Sargeant but into the side netting.
Just a couple of minutes later Slew tried again, this time he stung the hands of Sargeant who palmed his effort away.
Former King’s Lynn striker Adam MarrIott found himself in space on 13 minutes, but his effort was well wide of the target and not troubling Sam Johnson.
Town won the ball back through Gilmour and the ball kindly fell to Waters, but his shot blocked on the line by Ben Richards-Everton and that was the visiting side’s best chance of the half to go ahead.
However, Town had to keep their concentration and a quick throw into Daniel Powell looked to get in behind the defence, but Kian Spence was on hand to concede the first corner of the game to the home side, and Jack Senior was able to clear the resulting set piece.
The game was becoming stretched, and Town went straight up the other end, Slew found Senior on the overlap and his low cross found Waters at the back post, but his shot was always rising over the bar.
A foul by Spence gave the home side a chance, Josh Payne’s ball in was not cleared and the resulting shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.
Barnet had a spell of possession on 25 minutes, and they worked the ball to Josh Payne, but his effort was watched all the way by Johnson, and he comfortably collected the ball
Eight minutes later, good play down the right-hand side saw Jamie Allen released and his cross needed to be headed behind for a corner.
A great ball forward found Gilmour; the former Stockport man showed an instant touch which took him into the box, but his shot was saved by Sargeant.
The best chance of the half for the home side came after a flowing move came to Bees captain Mitch Brundle and his effort was saved by the legs of Johnson for a corner. The corner was cleared to Mason-Clark and his effort from the edge of the box was saved at the second attempt by Johnson.
A Johnson freekick found Senior on the left, his ball inside for Slew but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. Spences’ ball into the box was headed goal wards by Kieran Green but the keeper was able to claim, Barnet went up field and Powell shot from edge of the box was held well by Johnson.
A late corner for the away side gave Town the chance to find the opening goal but it was cleared at the near post as the half time whistle blew for a half that had plenty of chances but no goals to show for it.
An injury to Sam Beard forced an early second half sub with Joe Widdowson replacing him on 48 minutes.
The Assistant Referee’s flag went up on 57 minutes after a promising home move saw Mason-Clark combine with Flanagan to release Powell, but he had gone too early, but his shot hit the side netting as he didn’t know the flag was up.
Town broke quickly after Maher won the ball on the left-hand side, finding Gilmour and then wide for Slew. He used Senior on the overlap again but his low ball across the box couldn’t find a man in white, and the home side could clear.
Just after the hour mark, Spence did well and found Slew, his shot was parried away by Sargeant as the Town frontman couldn’t find his third goal of the campaign with the keeper denying him again.
Pete Wild’s first substitution of the afternoon was new loan signing Elliot Newby coming on for Harvey Gilmour at 64 minutes.
Brundle had a chance to get the opening goal at the near post from a corner, but his effort was well over Johnson’s bar.
Newby’s first contribution saw him get to the by-line but he couldn’t pick out a team mate and the home side was able to clear.
Barnet made two substitutions of their own with Bloomfield and Hall replacing Marriott and Flanagan.
Joe Widdowson foul on Waters saw the Bees substitute become the first man Aaron Jackson’s book before Town’s second sub of the afternoon which saw Dom Tear replace Allen. Wild’s final sub came with Gerry McDonagh replacing the impressive Jordan Slew with 10 minutes remaining.
Warren’s run down the right was rewarded with a corner as his cross was blocked. It was taken short, then the ball into the box looked for Bradbury but was cleared.
Town won the ball back, Newby down the left and he found Waters inside the box, but his effort was blocked and went harmlessly through to Sargeant.
Senior found Waters down the left and won a corner on the far side, Spence looked for Waters at the far post, but he couldn’t control the ball as the Fourth Official put 5 minutes of injury time to be played on the board.
Good play by Mcdonagh helped the Shaymen to win a corner in injury time, the ball in was met by Waters and his shot was denied by Sargeant, he got to the rebound and the keeper denied him for a second time. The double save ensured his side earnt a point which is just their fifth at home this campaign.
Town are back in action at home on Tuesday night with Notts County the visitors, 7.45pm kick-off.
Match Stats:
Barnet: 1 Sam Sargeant, 2 Jordan Thomas, 4 Josh Payne, 6 Ben Richards-Everton, 8 Mitch Brundle, 10 Daniel Powell, 11 Ephron Mason-Clark, 14 Adam Marriott (9 Mason Bloomfield 70), 16 Kian Flanagan (7 Rob Hall 68), 19 Harry Taylor, 23 Sam Beard (21 Joe Widdowson 48)
Subs: 27 Aston Oxborough, 18 Wes Fonguck
FC Halifax Town 1 Sam Johnson, 3 Jack Senior, 6 Tom Bradbury, 7 Jamie Allen (16 Dom Tear 71), 8 Kieran Green, 11 Billy Waters, 21 Tyrell Warren, 17 Kian Spence, 20 Harvey Gilmour (24 Elliot Newby 64), 21 Tyrell Warren, 25 Jordan Slew (15 Gerry McDonagh 80), 31 Niall Maher ©
Subs: 12 Tom Scott, 23 Reon Donkor
Referee: Aaron Jackson
Goals: None
Yellow Cards: Widdowson 71
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1302 (166 away)
Barnet 0 FC Halifax Town 0
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