The pressure is beginning to tell for title-chasing Barnet reports Nick Sandamas

Barnet FC take on Eastleigh in the National League — Title-chasing Barnet drew with Eastleigh at The Hive on Good Friday – (Credit – Radar)

Barnet 1 Eastleigh 1

The Bees pursuit of the National League title has been delayed for the third week running following a draw against mid-table Easleigh at The Hive yesterday.

The Bees have now only secured two points from the last three games following a 25 match unbeaten run and have seen their big lead trimmed to four points (with three games remaining), as second-placed York City put the pressure firmly back on the once runaway leaders with their fifth win in a row.

The Bees were boasted by the return of winger Idris Kanu following injury, getting a good hour under his belt before being substituted.

Less positively, left back Myles Kenlock was missing following his injury against Wealdstone last weekend, a big blow for a player who had been an ever present.

The opening half hour saw the Spitfires snuff out any Bees threats and, on 36 minutes, a mistake in the Bees defence led to the Spitfires taking the lead.

Mark Shelton’s attempted back pass had keeper Owen Evans in all sorts of trouble and Tyrese Shade robbed the keeper of the ball before putting a square pass onto the feet of Paul McCallum for an easy tap in.

However within eight minutes, the leaders drew level when Anthony Hartigan floated a left sided free kick to the back stick and on to the head of Danny Collinge, who scored.

After the break, it was the Spitfires who had the first big opportunity with Nathan Tshikuna unable to keep his shot down as the ball nestled into the concrete behind the goal.

Two great chances fell the Bees’ way short of the hour mark. First, Rhys Browne seeing keeper Joe McDonnell push his shot away then just a few minutes later Shelton heading towards goal and the Spitfires’ stopper clawing it away with Callum Stead waiting on the goalline to pounce.

As the Bees bought on more firepower in search of the winner, the closest they came was a Harry Chapman effort which McDonnell got down well to save.

Despite five minutes of time added on, the Bees were unable to breach the Spitfires’ defence for a second time and a point each was the end result.

With nerves starting to show, the Bees cannot afford to drop more points. Easter Monday’s game away to Sutton is now a must win especially as York are waiting in the wings to pounce.

Team: Evans, Collinge, Oluwo, Taveres, Glover (Telford 82) Brunt (Ndlovu 61), Hartigan, Shelton, Browne, Stead,Kanu (Chapman 65)

Subs not used: Ballagambi, Coker, Clifford, Grimwood

Attendance 3065 (117 away fans)

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