Jason Puncheon missed a late penalty that would have given the Bees a fortunate victory over lowly Mansfield Town at Underhill today. The Stags had taken a lead early in the second half and it was due to a strike from the Barnet substitute Liam Hatch that the teams took a point apiece.
Midfielder Neal Bishop and defender Joe Devera were deemed fit enough to start the game, although Barnet manager Paul Fairclough later admitted that they were only able to play "with their handbrakes on'' and their performances were slightly restricted as a consequence.
Joe O'Cearuill was making his first starting league appearance for the Bees and he was instantly involved when he made a high clearance.
Very early on Adam Birchall had a chance to open the scoring when he was fed the ball by Bishop but his left-footed effort did not overly alarm the veteran Carl Muggleton in the Mansfield goal. Moments later an inviting cross from the left from Puncheon could have led to the Bees taking an early lead.
As the half developed Mansfield indicated that despite propping up the table they were no push-overs. Strikers Simon Brown and the ever alert Michael Boulding kept the Bees defence at full stretch which looked lacking some of the composure of recent weeks.
The visitors should have been a goal to the good when their right back, Johnny Mullins, was left unmarked at the far post and when it seemed more difficult not to score, he somehow managed to evade the target.
Lee Harrison was called upon to make several saves of note and skipper Sagi Burton needed to be on hand with important interceptions.
Two minutes into the second half Mansfield took the lead. O'Cearuill was out jumped and Simon Brown bore down on the Bees goal before hitting a crisp shot past Harrison.
Mid way through the second half Devera was replaced by Ian Hendon and the hard working Max Porter was substituted by the more attacking Anthony Thomas as the Bees re-shuffled their line up in search of an equaliser.
On 72 minutes Hatch latched onto a long ball and then after flicking the ball into the path of Birchall, who returned the compliment, he retained his composure to blast an unstoppable shot past Muggleton.
Three points certainly looked to be heading in Barnet's direction when the Bees were awarded a penalty for handball by Boulding. However Puncheon's effort, although well struck was pushed onto the woodwork by Muggleton.
The woodwork again came to the rescue of the Stags when a deflected effort by Ashley Carew hit a post as both sides went in search of a winning goal.
Bishop was unfortunate that his late effort went over the bar, but that would have been cruel on Mansfield, who on this evidence must surely soon climb out of the lower reaches of league 2.
Perhaps 5 games in 15 days is one reason for this less than sparkling Barnet performance but the players this week, without a midweek match to focus on, will need to regain the spring in their step for the trip to Wales, when they face Wrexham next Saturday.
David Bloomfield
