An enthralling game on Tuesday night at Underhill ended with honours even as the Bees twice fought back from being a goal down to earn a deserved point against Gillingham. Lawrie Sanchez made just one change from the side beaten 3-1 by Port Vale last weekend, Sam Deering replacing Tommy Fraser in midfield. New loan signing, Exodus Geohaghon started on the bench.
The visitors started much the stronger side and in the opening 10 minutes looked as though they might overrun the Bees and they took the lead on 6 minutes following a long throw which was poked home by Danny Spiller. It was a soft goal for the Bees to concede but the Gills looked far stronger than the home side early on and but for some last ditch defending and fine goalkeeping from Dean Brill, Gillingham could have had the game pretty much wrapped up before half time. As the half progressed however the Bees did start to get back in the game with Mark Marshall going close and a tremendous run by Izale McLeod nearly setting up a goal for Jason Price. The Bees also had a couple of shouts for penalties for hand ball.
HT: Bees 0 Gills 1
Barnet came out looking stronger in the second half but the away side should have gone 2-0 up early on when Curtis Weston pulled his shot wide when clean through on goal with just Brill to beat. Just past the hour, though, the Bees grabbed an equaliser against the run of play. A cross by Mark Byrne was only cleared to Tommy Fraser and he chipped the ball to Izale MCLEOD who deftly headed past former Bee, Ross Flitney to put the Bees level.
After the goal the Bees picked up the pace of their play and were unlucky not to go ahead soon after when following a fall on the edge of the area on McLeod, Byrne shot fiercely into the net only for the referee to disallow the goal as he had failed to play the advantage and had already blown for a Barnet free kick. The referee’s inconsistent decisions were a feature of much of the game unfortunately as soon after Gillingham nearly scored after he let them have the advantage following in a similar situation.
Barnet nearly went ahead when following a Byrne corner, Jason Price’s shot hit both posts before going clear for a lucky let off for the visitors. At this point there looked only one team that was going to score but Gillingham went ahead on the break when following sloppy midfield play by Byrne and Fraser, Jack Payne scored with a fine long range shot which left Brill with little chance.
It would have been harsh on the Bees to have lost following a much improved performance on the night but it looked as though that was to be their fate until the 4th minute of injury time. A free kick by Anwar Uddin was headed across goal by Clovis Kamdjo and MCLEOD rifled the shot home for his second goal on the night to level the scores and gain a valuable point for the Bees. It was Izzy’s 5th goal in 2 games against Andy Hessenthaller’s side. The draw leaves the Bees in 14th place with a tough trip to league leaders Rotherham on Saturday.
Barnet Mad Bees’ Man of the Match: Izale McLeod
FT: Bees 2 Gills 2
Barnet: Barnet: Brill; Senda, Uddin, Kamdjo, Parkes; Deering (Holmes 82), Hughes (Fraser 46), Byrne, Marshall; Price (Taylor 79), McLeod.
Subs not used: O’Brien, Geohaghon.
Att: 2466