Nick Sandamas sees Barnet concede a late equaliser against Harrogate at The Hive

The main stand at The Hive Stadium, home of Barnet FC — The Hive (Credit – Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Barnet 1 Harrogate Town 1

Jack Muldoon’s header for the North Yorkshire side twelve minutes from the end of normal time ensured this game ended all square with the Bees having to settle for a share of the spoils for the fifth league game in a row.

Britt Assombalonga came into the starting eleven in the league for the first time since his signing last month with Lee Ndlovu making way in the only change to the last game against Gillingham.

The first opportunity for a strike on goal fell to the struggling visitors with eight minutes gone, when Bryn Morris played the ball to Conor McAleny who tried to curl the ball into the net but, luckily for the Bees, it ended up in the side netting.

McAleny was at it again five minutes later with an even better chance but keeper Ciaran Slicker got fingertips to the ball to guide it onto the bar and away from danger.

With 20 minutes played, Assombalonga made a chance for himself following a free kick in his own half by Slicker but his shot on the edge of the box was beaten away by keeper James Belshaw. However, three minutes later there was nothing the keeper could do as the same player struck gold.

The former Middlesbrough took advantage of a mix up outside the box to get at his feet, then he took aim with a turn and shot, finding the bottom corner of the net to send the home fans into delirium.

The Bees continued to dictate the game and, three minutes from half time, were given the perfect opportunity to double their lead from the penalty spot when Idris Kanu was bundled over in the box by Reece Smith.

Mark Shelton stepped up to take the kick but Belshaw guessed right, getting down low down to his right to keep it out, meaning the visitors went in at half time still in with a chance of getting something out of the game.

The second half continued with the Bees in control and in search of the second goal with Callum Stead’s shot from close range deflected behind for a corner and Adam Senior unlucky with a shot which was saved low down by custodian Belshaw.

Then, Muldoon broke Bees’ hearts twelve minutes from time with the leveller. A corner by Smith caused havoc in the box and the ball found O’Connor who, with back to goal, played an overhead ball to find the unmarked Muldoon who headed in from close range.

Ollie Hawkins came on with five minutes of normal time remaining to bolster the Bees’ forward line in search of a winner,but it was the Sulphrites who almost snatched it late on, when Shawn McCoulsky got in front of Nik Taveres but could only hook the ball over the top.

In his post-match comments, Bees’ boss Dean Brennan described his side as “diabolical” and “wasteful” in front of goal following another game of missed chances that leaves his side in 14th place after 18 games.

Bristol Rovers, on a run of eight successive league losses, are next up for the Bees on Tuesday week under the lights at The Hive.

Team: Slicker, Collinge, Tavares. Senior, Smith (Hawkins 85) Glover, Shelton, Ofoborh, Stead (Ndlovu 68) , Assombalonga (Browne 68), Kanu

Subs not used: Evans, Winterburn, Hartigan, Kensdale

Attendance 2187 (145 away fans)

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