 Liam Hatch: Hit the bar for the Bees |
Barnet made two changes to the starting line-up from the one that lost to Lincoln City on Saturday with Nicky Bailey and Liam Hatch starting in place of Barry Cogan and Oliver Allen who dropped down to the substitutes bench.
Both sides started the game at a frantic pace, although chances were at a premium in the opening 10 minutes as both teams struggled to create anything in the final third.
Shrewsbury were dealt an early blow when they had to make a change after just eight minutes when Ben Herd suffered a serious leg injury and had to be replaced by Sagi Burton.
Barnet nearly fell behind in the 14th minute when Derek Asamoah nearly latched onto a short Dean Sinclair back pass, but Simon King was there ahead of the Shrewsbury striker to clear the danger.
A minute later and it was the Bees this time threatening in front of goal when Adam Birchall latched onto a Hatch flick on, but Town goalkeeper Chris McKenzie pushed the strikers shot away at his near post.
Hatch and Asamoah then had efforts for either side as the game suddenly sprung to life, whilst Barnet were also forced into an early change in the 23rd minute when captain for the night Andy Hessenthaler had to be replaced by Barry Cogan after suffering a calf injury.
Jason Puncheon then nearly gave Barnet the lead in the 30th minute when his fierce strike from all of 25 yards was expertly tipped over his crossbar by McKenzie and, from the resulting corner kick, Birchall and Hatch when close, but both efforts were blocked by Danny Hall.
Ben Davies then saw his long distance free kick easily gathered by Ross Flitney, whilst Asamoah struck a post for the away side ten minutes before half time after a fine turn and shot.
Flitney then did well to prevent a Shrewsbury goal six minutes later when he blocked an Asamoah strike after a misplaced clearance by King before Hatch's pressure on keeper McKenzie following a long Flitney goal kick nearly allowed Birchall in, but on the stretch the striker could only direct his weak effort from an acute angle into the side-netting.
Right on the stroke of half time and Birchall was again in the thick of the action when he latched onto a long Flitney goal kick. McKenzie came rushing off of his line, but Birchall flicked the ball over the goalkeepers head but, with the goal at his mercy, the Bees striker could only direct his volley over the crossbar from six yards.
The second half was again an even affair with both sides creating numerous chances.
In the 48th minute Asamoah was again threatening, but, after a fine run, the strikers effort went over the crossbar, whilst at the other end Cogan and Puncheon saw shots blocked for the Bees.
With an hour gone Barnet again had an excellent chance to take the lead when Ismail Yakubu met a Bailey free kick, but, unchallenged, the Bees centre back could only direct his header from 10 yards straight at keeper McKenzie who palmed the ball away to safety.
In the 53rd minute Hatch came within the width of the crossbar from given Barnet when his shot smashed off of the woodwork after the away side failed to clear a Puncheon corner kick. The Bees striker thought the ball had crossed the line although the Assistant Referee failed to agree.
Davies then saw another free kick go wide for Shrewsbury with 10 minutes to go before Bailey saw a flicked header held a minute later following a Puncheon corner kick.
Just as both sides thought that they were going to end the game goalless, with the final kick of the game Shrewsbury could have won it when Andy Cooke met a Marc Tierney corner but the strikers effort hit the outside of a post and went behind for a goal kick to the Bees.
A point gained or two lost? That was the question on everyone's lips as they left a cold Underhill at the end of the game.
Attendance: 1672
Away: 323
By Jonathan Sugar
