A spirited come back in the second half saw Barnet draw level after being two goals behind and so reach the benchmark of 50 points. On reaching this target manager Paul Fairclough declared that he felt his team were now totally safe from any relegation fears.
With Ismail Yakubu and Sagi Burton both sidelined with injury Barnet started with a pairing of Joe Devera and Michael Leary at centre back. Leary wore the captain's armband and Paul Fairclough was rewarded with a performance that improved as the game wore on.
The Bees started with a 4-5-1 formation, with Cliff Akurang playing the lone role. The change in shape was brought about by injuries but also in an attempt to put to an end of series of disappointing away performances such as seen at Grimsby and Macclesfield.
Josh Wright was rested, Max Porter replaced the on loan midfielder. Wright will be involved in the Bradford City game on Tuesday.
Matt Hamshaw for the home side put in a very dangerous cross on 12 minutes, but no one was on hand to take advantage. However two minutes later Michael Boulding was quick to react when confusion between Jordan Parkes and Leary enabled him to nip in and smartly plant the ball in the net.
John Mullins and Stephen Dawson had chances to extend the Stags lead in the first half but the Bees managed to get to the break just the one goal behind and Barnet started the second period reverting to a 4-4-2 formation with Adomah partnering Akurang in attack.
An Adomah effort early in the second half nearly brought the teams level but it was the Stags who extended their lead in the 55th minute. From a well taken free kick just outside his area the veteran keeper Carl Muggleton found Hamshaw. The Mansfield winger controlled the ball deftly and then expertly found the net with a well executed lob.
For a period the Stags were in a rampant mood and Jefferson Louis should have headed home with the goal gaping in front of him. This miss and the mass introduction of three substitutes turned the tide in the favour of the visitors.
Anthony Thomas, Adam Birchall and Jason Puncheon joined the fray mid way through the second half and within only two minutes the Bees were back in the game. Thomas took advantage of a lax defensive header, steadied himself and drilled a fine effort into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Amid hail stones and blustery winds Barnet took the game to their hosts.
In the 77th minute a well taken free kick from Puncheon struck a post, Neal Bishop attempted a follow up, but it was the former Stag Birchall who was on hand to poach the equaliser.
Confidence almost visibly drained from the Mansfield team and Barnet looked the team most likely to go on and win the match.
On the basis of the second half display few would argue that the Bees were not deserving of a share of the spoils.
Max Porter was a key player today and did a sterling job in the centre of the midfield and it was pleasing to see Puncheon looking accomplished and dangerous when on the ball.
The away matches keep coming when the Bees hit the road on Tuesday to face Bradford City at Valley Parade.
David Bloomfield.
