Point salvaged

Halifax 1 Barnet 1

Barnet's team and their supporters had a horrendous journey north through heavy traffic to face Halifax on Friday. The players arrived 40 minutes before the kick-off, and the fans missed the first 40 minutes of play, following their six-hour nightmare trip.

But all's well that ends well and Ken Charlery's last-gasp goal gave the battling Bees a hard-earned, useful point and put a smile back on the face of the fans.

Defender Mark Arber ended a storming run with a low shot that keeper Lee Martin failed to hold, and Charlery swooped to prod the ball home. His point-saver denied Halifax the victory that would have left them top of the table.

Barnet made the running for the first 20 minutes and might well have established a useful lead.

In the fourth minute, Charlery had a half-chance but keeper Martin reacted swiftly and smothered.

Charlery muffed a far easier scoring opportunity in the 17th minute. Simpson stormed down the right and squared the ball to Charlery but, with only keeper Martin to beat, Charlery fired high over the top.

The tables were turned as Halifax began to show the form that had put them among the early pacemakers on their return to the Football League, having romped away with the Conference title.

It needed the heroics of keeper Lee Harrison to keep the visitors level. Harrison produced a magnificent save, palming away a forceful shot from Marc Williams.

Moments later, Harrison again thwarted Williams and defender Mark Bradshaw went close for the home side, bending an 18-yard effort around the post.

Halifax's new signing Steve Guinan, on loan from Premiership Nottingham Forest, wasted no time in opening his account when he raced onto a through ball inside the area and slipped a shot beyond the advancing Harrison.

Early in the second period Halifax threatened in a swift counter attack when the ever dangerous Jamie Paterson burst down the right and sent a low cross towards the equally menacing Williams, who evaded Julian Alsford only to be denied by a swift advance from Harrison, who smothered.

The Bees retaliated with a good break down the right by Charlery, who lofted the ball into the box where Jamie Murphy just got to it ahead of McGleish.

But Halifax showed the greater penetration and when Paterson whipped in a cross that struck Alsford on the head, the ball seemed destined for the top corner of the net, until the ever dependable Harrison produced the save of the match stretching across goal to punch it away.

Bees manager John Still switched to a three-man attack after 63 mintues, when Sean Devine replaced Rob Sawyers. The move almost brought immediate dividends when McGleish curled the ball fractionally wide from 20 yards.

In the closing minutes, Harrison produced more acrobatics, diving to tip a low shot from Paul Stoneman around the post after the defender had been allowed to run unchallenge dfrom the halfway line.

Barnet retaliated, with McGleish screwing a shot wide, before Charlery came to their rescue.

BARNET: Harrison, Stockley, Sawyers (Devine 63), Alsford, Basham, Arber, Searle, Doolan, Charlery, McGleish, Simpson. Subs not used: Onwere, King.

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