Can a commendable comeback obscure the defensive failings that gifted Macclesfield a two goal start? Barnet are not playing the free-flowing football that was a hallmark of their early season good form and the segments of the team are not gelling as a whole.
Headed goals by the now prolific Liam Hatch and midfielder Neal Bishop won for the Bees a point that in itself looked a distant prospect when the visitors were two to the good after only eight minutes. A draw brings to an end a run of three successive league defeats, so whilst the objective is always three points and a victory, after three league games without a goal, scoring twice and winning a point in this match, if you are of an optimistic nature, might be viewed as the sighting of a green shoot of recovery.
Heavy rain had prompted the referee to inspect the pitch twice, finally giving the go-ahead an hour before kick off and the Bees boss Paul Fairclough gave Giuliano Grazioli his first start of the season, with Adam Birchall dropping down to the bench and with Josh Wright having returned to Charlton Athletic after his loan spell Michael Leary took up the mantle in midfield.
The visitors took the lead in only the second minute when amid six yard box confusion Jimmy McNulty stabbed the ball home from short range and matters were to get worse for Barnet when on eight minutes Bees keeper Lee Harrison failed to collect the ball cleanly, allowing the Silkmen's number 13 Levi Reid to capitalise on his good fortune by slotting the ball into an empty net.
A Bee fan from the back of the main stand was heard to declare that there was still plenty of time to get back into the game and his words were to prove prophetic.
A minute later Liam Hatch reduced the deficit with a deft header from an in swinging corner from the left by Ashley Carew and the ball went beyond the despairing dive of Jon Brain into the corner of the net.
In the first half in particular Grazioli used his guile and experience to good effect, setting up several opportunities for his team mates but unsurprisingly tired as the game progressed and was later replaced by Birchall.
Just before half time Harrison did well to palm away for a corner a powerful drive from Francis Green, enabling the Bees to begin the second half with just one goal separating the teams.
Macclesfield had been attempting to slow down the game from the moment they took a two goal lead; each dead ball providing an opportunity to restart the game at the pace of a snail.
In time added on, from a defensive hoofed clearance the ball ricocheted in the Main Stand and was caught be a Bees fan. Assistant Manger Ian Hendon signalled for the ball, and on receiving it bowled the ball down the line for Barnet to take the throw. This fine piece of fielding was to pay dividends when from the resulting play Jason Puncheon crossed for Neal Bishop to plant a diving header firmly into the goal. His first of the season.
Joe O'Cearuill had a goal bound effort blocked on the line in the very dying moments; which would had put a very nice gloss on a performance that most observers deemed to have been undeserving of all three points.
Glass half empty, half full. Your call.
David Bloomfield
