Gravesend 2 Barnet 2

Last updated : 19 April 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Gravesend manager Andy Ford admitted a point wasn't good enough for his side who now go into their final two games needing at least four points to avoid the possibility of a swift return to the Ryman League.

Gravesend did well to recover from going a goal down inside the first minute to come back and lead 2-1 at half time, before an excellent strike by youngster Craig Pope earned the visitors a share of spoils.

Barnet's Frazer Toms was carried off and taken to hospital with a suspected double fracture and goalkeeper Daniel Naisbitt also ended up on a stretcher and had to be replaced by youngster Ricky Millard.

Barnet's caretaker manager Martin Allen produced a surprise by dropping Junior Agogo to the bench but could not have wished for a better start as Neil Midgley punished Gravesend for some hesitant defending as they waited for an offside flag that never came, rounding Paul Wilkerson to stab home.

Wilkerson stopped Barnet going 2-0 up on five minutes when he pulled off a fine save to deny Mark Gower who had a highly industrious afternoon in the Barnet midfield and is surely destined to play at a higher level next season.

Gravesend's Liam Hatch twice finished poorly, before fellow front man Kevin Budge fired just wide on nine minutes. He had another shot deflected but saved by Naisbitt before Gravesend drew level after 26 minutes.

Barnet defender Matt Langston was booked for persistent fouling, and from the free-kick Hatch bundled the ball home for the Gravesend equaliser.

Two minutes later Toms came off worst in a 50-50 challenge with Robert Owen, and the ground fell silent as he writhed in agony with a stretcher called for immediately.

Agogo replaced him pleasing a couple of top club scouts who had made the trip to spy on him as he is destined to also leave Underhill in the summer.

Tostao Kwashi went down in the box before Hatch and Budge had two other efforts blocked.

Four minutes of injury time were added on due to Toms' injury and Gravesend defender Francis Duku found himself unmarked to blast the ball home following good work by Justin Skinner and Jimmy Jackson.

Gravesend thought they had made it 3-1 seven minutes into the second half but Budge's effort was ruled out for offside.

Millard then came on for Naisbitt but was rarely troubled and Barnet made Gravesend pay for more slack defending when Agogo set up Pope to finish with his unfancied left foot and leave the Kent club chasing a winner that never came.

The result means that Gravesend are now just above the bottom three only on goal difference ahead of the Easter Monday trip to Farnborough.