If you ever wondered as to why goal scorers attract a disproportionate amount of fame and fortune, the numerous chances that Barnet failed to convert into goals provided evidence of their worth and how mysterious is their art.

In the first half alone Barnet created enough chances to be conservatively at least three goals to the good. Some sparking interplay often carved open the Rochdale defence, but in truth James Spencer, in the visitors goal, was rarely called upon to perform heroics to keep the Bees at bay.

In the opening moments Barnet, kicking up the slope, forced a corner and set the tone for the half with much of the play in and around the Dale goal. Guy Branston, the definition of a rugged centre back, was a rock on which much of the Bees attacking forays floundered. Occasionally turned by speedier forwards he was always in position to head away danger and was active in marshalling his defence to great effect.

Lee Harrison, the Barnet keeper, on his 300th appearance, marked the occasion with a clean sheet. When Rochdale did mount noteworthy attacks he was on hand to make two exceptional saves that denied the Dale.

Josh Wright was reinstated into the centre of the Barnet midfield and in this only his third ever League appearance the England Youth player seemed to more fully grasp the demands that League Two football asks of its midfield men. His distribution was crisp, his tackling firm and he put his body on the line several times in the Barnet cause.

Rochdale had not come to Underhill to defend. They played much of the game with an attacking 4-3-3 and with Chris Dagnall roaming at will, allied to Barnet's failure to trouble the scoreboard, the possibility of the away side sneaking a victory could never be totally discounted.

With almost half an hour remaining Bees boss Paul Fairclough changed his strikers by introducing into the fray Liam Hatch and the returning Jason Norville, who replaced Adam Birchall and Anthony Thomas. They provided a different kind of threat with Norville ironically getting the ball in the net with almost his first touch, only for a handball decision, rightly, to go against the substitute.

Jason Puncheon, whose silk like skill often bemused his opponents almost, again, scored a late dramatic winner when his curling free kick was diverted onto a post for corner. Perhaps it was too much to ask for that bolt of lightening to strike twice.

Kenny Gillet continues to impress at left back. A man mountain in the mould of the Rochdale centre back Branston he is not, but his determination in the air and on the ground have helped give the Bees defence a more resolute look about it.

Another game without a caution for the Bees and a clean sheet are credible achievements, and although the players left the field to applause in recognition of their efforts, fans and players alike share a sense of frustration that whilst opportunities are being created in abundance; a greater proportion need to be converted into goals to turn draws into victories.

David Bloomfield