It was a point apiece for Barnet and Chester City on Saturday after neither side could find that killer touch in front of goal to claim maximum points.

Bees Manager Paul Fairclough made just one change to his starting line-up following the Easter Monday win against Mansfield Town with the injured Anthony Charles, ruled out with a groin strain, replaced by Simon Clist. Simon King moved to centre back allowing Clist to take up his usual left back slot.

Barnet started brightly and they nearly took the lead after just four minutes when a miss hit left footed effort from Hatch fell nicely for Nicky Bailey but the midfielder took too long to get his effort away and Chris Mackenzie was quickly off his line to block the effort.

It was nearly disaster two minutes later though for Barnet when Gregg Blundell outpaced Simon King on the Bees right.His cross took a deflection off of the head of Paul Warhurst and the ball fell nicely to Jake Edwards but he blasted his effort high over the bar from 10 yards.

It was Edwards again three minutes later who came close to scoring once more when he broke free of a static Bees' back four but his weak effort was held by Ross Flitney diving low to his right.

Straight down the other and Hatch, this time for the Bees, had a chance to get the game's first goal but he could only direct his header over the bar following a fine in-swinging free kick from Dean Sinclair by the left corner flag.

Chester then suffered a blow when influential midfielder and captain Stewart Drummond had to be replaced after just 25 minutes after pulling a muscle - Abdul El Kholti taking Drummond's place in the City midfield.

The change did not appear to affect the home side as they continued to pass the ball about with confidence but the Bees backline, marshalled superbly by Paul Warhurst and King, dealt with any threat.

In fact, it was the Bees who were looking the more likely just before the interval and a Hatch effort, after good build up play involving Bailey and Fuller, resulted in the Bees front man seeing his left footed effort parried away for a corner by Mackenzie.

After the interval Barnet emerged the stronger of the two sides with Andy Hessenthaler and Barry Fuller battling for everything in the middle of midfield.

Chester, who introduced David Artell from the bench in place of Steven Vaughan at the beginning of the second half, were looking to play on the break with the pacy Derek Asamoah looking to get in behind the Bees defence.

Nevertheless, it was strike partner Blundell who looked to test Flitney in the 58^th minute but his weak header was easily held by the Bees custodian.

From then on it was all Barnet and the travelling Bees were playing the better football. And in a twenty minute spell after the interval Paul Fairclough's side could have taken the lead on a number of occasions.

In the 59th minute a fine cross from Hessenthaler found the head of Kandol but from eight yards out the big front man could only direct his header wide of a post.

Three minutes later and it was Barnet who threatened again and they twice came close to breaking the deadlock.

A deep cross by Hatch found the unmarked Sinclair but from an acute angle, the former Norwich City trainee could not get any power on his header and Mackenzie gathered the ball comfortably.

Instead of taking him time, though, the Chester keeper decided to throw the ball out quickly - Ian Hendon disposed Blundell, released Hatch down the right and his deep cross found the head of Kandol. His header hit the back of Luke Dimech, rebounded back into his path before he squared the ball looking for Hessenthaler but Carl Regan got there first to clear the danger.

It was Kandol again in the 66^th minute who again threatened but this time, under pressure from Dimech, his header from a Bailey free kick lacked direction and sailed over MacKenzie's cross bar.

The final half hour for the Bees saw them dominate for long periods with Mark Wright's City side finding it increasingly difficult to retain possession.

Fuller and Hatch came close to getting in behind the Blues defence but they were both denied by last ditch Dimech headers on both occasions.

Ten minutes from time and the large Barnet contingent nearly had a goal to cheer when a long ball from Fuller, playing his last game for the Bees before a return to Charlton Athletic, was flicked on by Tresor Kandol. Bailey found himself in a one-on-one situation with Blues keeper Mackenzie and it was the ex-Orient man who came out on top blocking Bailey's effort away with his legs for a corner kick.

Fuller then could have made it a dream end to his Barnet career but his effort following a Bailey corner was hacked off of the line by Tom Curtis.

Sinclair was then denied a chance to shoot when the referee pulled play back for a free kick before both sides were denied penalties in the final few minutes when firstly for the home side Asamoah appeals were turned down following a Flitney challenge whilst at the other end the offcials deemed that Hatch's shirt was not being pulled when he attempted to cross.

Jonathan Sugar