Plan B secured for Barnet an FA Cup Third Round Replay when substitute Adam Birchall scored a late equaliser against Swindon Town at the County Ground. The magic of the cup was seen to be alive and kicking in the manner in which the Bee's fans and players alike jigged for joy when Birchall's terrific goal rippled in the net.

Barnet boss Paul Fairclough selected an unchanged team from the one that started against Wycombe in midweek, the formation remaining 4-5-1, with Cliff Akurang again the lone striker.

Billy Paynter of Swindon was the first to trouble the keepers when he headed goal wards from a long throw, but Bee's keeper Rob Beckwith was up to the task. Beckwith then pulled off a great save on 31 minutes when Sofiene Zaaboub found himself free less than 10 yards out , but the Barnet keeper's reflex save pushed the ball away from danger and for a corner.

In central defence Joe Devera was again in top form. Winning headers and using his speed to nip attacks in the bud he did much to ensure that Swindon were unable to score in the first period.

On occasion Jason Puncheon would spring into life and produce a moment of danger and he was constantly looking for opportunities to unleash his powerful left foot shot.

In the opening moments of the second half Swindon looked certain to score when from a corner Barnet could just not clear the ball and shot after shot rained in. But to their credit both the keeper and those defending put their bodies in the path of goal bound efforts to keep the ball out.

In the 58th minute Puncheon had an excellent chance to put the visitors ahead when he took a headed pass from Akurang and gliding past a defender or two he lofted the ball gently over the keeper but his effort rolled tantalisingly wide of the mark.

Two minutes later Swindon took the lead. Miguel Commingues's cross/shot was pushed up in the air by Beckwith and in the ensuing confusion Blair Sturrock bundled the ball home.

Paul Fairclough quickly responded by replacing Akurang and midfielder Ashley Carew for two fast mobile strikers in Birchall and Anthony Thomas, plan B was now fully operational.

With five minutes remaining Birchall deftly controlled a long kick from Beckwith and seeing a small chink in Swindon's defensive armour his smart shot found it's target to bring the Bee's level.

The Swindon players who once they had scored the game's opening goal had tried, with an eye on the clock, to slow the game to walking pace suddenly sensed a replay looming large at Underhill tried to press for a winning goal. Barnet were in no mood in entertain that notion and indeed two minutes into time added on an audacious effort from distance by Neal Bishop almost did away with the necessity of a replay at all.

Back to league action next Saturday when the Barnet road show pulls up at Milton Keynes to challenge for points with Paul Ince's table toppers.

David Bloomfield