With an injury doubt hanging over Liam Hatch the Barnet boss Paul Fairclough pushed Jason Puncheon from his slot out on the left wing to partner Adam Birchall up front. Kenny Gillet, after his cameo at Bury was re-introduced at left-back, with Nicky Nicolau keeping his place in the line-up as a left-sided midfield replacement for Puncheon.
County started brightly and made several robust challenges on the returning Gillet. Never one to flinch a challenge the Frenchman was equal to the task and he showed that his metatarsal injury was behind him. One cross in the first half by the Bees defender evaded all comers, but it had been expertly delivered into the danger zone.
For the Magpies the lively left-winger Myles Weston was engaged in an enthralling duel with the Bees right-back, Joe Devera. Weston did on occasion beat his man, but Devera was never left in his wake.
On loan from Liverpool the visitor's striker Craig Lindfield has on his side youth and an eagerness to impress having scored on his League debut just a few days earlier. Facing him was the much more experienced Sagi Burton and their contest was a fascinating one with one using his sense of positioning to read and nullify the danger with the young colt running here there and everywhere.
On 39 minutes Jason Puncheon picked the ball up on the right and started a mazy run, cutting inside defenders. He then released a canon of a shot that fairly ripped into the net to give the Bees a one goal half-time advantage.
The lead was not to last too long past the interval. With just four minutes of time having elapsed a speculative cross by the Magpies Richard Butcher from the right caught Bees keeper Lee Harrison unawares and the visitors were on level terms. A definite error by the keeper.
For the majority of the second period, with Barnet attacking down the slope, the home side dominated the play with both Adam Birchall and Puncheon having good efforts on goal.
With some ten minutes remaining a marvellously inventive deft pass by Puncheon into the path of Birchall brought out a good save from County's keeper Kevin Pilkington, although in truth this was a gilt-edged opportunity and perhaps being that it was not converted a victory that on the balance of play Barnet could argue they deserved began to look a less likely outcome.
Birthday boy, Josh Wright, eighteen on the night, gave another 'mature head on young shoulders' performance and went close with several pile-drivers from the edge of the box.
County occasionally flitted into life and late-on a Lawrie Dudfield strike on goal did give cause for concern.
Post-match Paul Fairclough said that he was proud of the commitment shown by his players on the night. He felt they had picked themselves up after the defeat at Bury and despite the nature of Notts County's equaliser they rallied again and took the game to their opponents with endeavour, although he was of the opinion that his side need to show a little more composure if draws are to be converted into victories.
A break this weekend from the marathon that is League Two when The FA Cup comes a calling this Saturday when Gillingham visit Underhill in a First Round tie.
David Bloomfield
