The Imps gained a point at Barnet after coming from behind at The Hive. John Akinde opened the scoring but a resilient City side fought back and equalized through James Wilson, scoring on his debut.
The Imps fielded an unchanged lineup against Barnet in what was Graham Westley’s first game in charge of The Bees. City started brightly as rain hammered down onto an already slick surface, Danny Rowe set Jordan Williams free down the left, but his effort was blocked. The travelling army of City supporters behind Paul Farman’s goal were in fine voice and almost had a goal to celebrate when Williams almost sneaked an early effort past Craig Ross, but the home ‘keeper dived to the left to save.
In a fast paced start to the game, Alex Nicholls almost took advantage and a momentary slip in the Imps box but he screwed his shot wide of goal from deep inside the area. The next attack from the home side bore fruit, John Akinde took possession of the ball out on the left, he cut inside and hit a low, skidding effort which almost seemed to gather pace off the turf and sneaked just inside the far post.
Barnet puffed their chests out after opening the scoring, Ryan Watson hit a rising drive which clipped the top of the crossbar. The Bees’ number seven then had another effort, this time from a free kick but it was no danger to the City goal.
The Imps’ supporters raised the volume to urge their side on and after Matt Rhead won a free kick out on the left, it was swung in towards goal by Neal Eardley and it almost crept in at the back post with Matt Green doing his best to get the vital touch.
Richard Brindley hit a wicked swerving effort which Farman had to watch all the way to save with Barnet looking dangerous on the break, attacking in numbers and at pace. City pressed for an equaliser before the break, Williams’ pacey cross was flicked on but Rowe couldn’t capitalise then Habergham linked well down the left but the final ball didn’t find a man in a black shirt.
Half Time
Barnet 1 The Imps 0
City came out of the traps flying after making two subs at the break, one of them JAMES WILSON made an instant impact, leaping high to meet Habergham’s corner and head home with just over a minute of the second half gone. The Imps were looking to make it two and heaped the pressure on the home defence in front of the travelling City supporters who sensed another goal for their side could be on the cards.
Harry Anderson almost became the second sub to score for the Imps in a frenetic opening first ten minutes of the half, a ball into the feet of Green was flicked first time for Anderson who took a touch before shooting low and hard but Ross dived and got a strong hand to it.
Barnet pressed but City stood strong before again mounting an attack of their own and twice within a minute were inches away from gaining the lead for the first time in the game. Eardley forced Ross into a save, the Bees’ ‘keeper tipped over his free kick and from the resulting corner Michael Bostwick headed inches wide.
Rowe hit the crossbar after Barnet failed to clear an inswinging ball into the box from Habergham as the visitors were penning their hosts deep inside their own half and the Bees’ goal lived a charmed life. Lee Frecklington fed Ollie Palmer down the left he initially appeared to have lost possession but he got the better of Dan Sweeney but the cross was blocked. Frecklington was getting more involved as the game went into the latter stages with the game opening up and both sides aiming for the last gasp winner. Barnet hit the Imps on the break but under pressure Justin Amaluzor could only scuff an effort which Farman easily gathered. Rowe tried an audacious overhead kick as the game went into injury time, the ball flew over the top into the visiting fans. Bostwick missed the target late on as City pushed for the winner right to the final whistle but it wasn’t to be on this occasion.
Full Time
Barnet 1 The Imps 1
Barnet
21 Craig ROSS
2 Richard BRINDLEY
5 Ricardo ALMEIDA SANTOS
7 Ryan WATSON
8 Curtis WESTON
9 John AKINDE
11 Shaq COULTHIRST
12 Jack TAYLOR
13 David TUTONDA
23 Alex NICHOLLS
26 Dan SWEENEY
Substitutes
31 Kai MCKENZIE-LYLE
4 Charlie CLOUGH (90’ for Amaluzor)
10 Jamal CAMPBELL-RYCE
15 Ruben BOVER (77’ for Weston)
20 Mauro VILHETE
30 Justin AMALUZOR (82’ for Coulthirst)
32 Joe PAYNE
Booking: Weston 70’ Amaluzor 90’
GOAL: Akinde 12’
The Imps
1 Paul FARMAN
3 Sam HABERGHAM
5 Luke WATERFALL
9 Matt RHEAD
10 Matt GREEN
14 Jordan WILLIAMS
16 Michael BOSTWICK
19 Lee FRECKLINGTON
23 Neal EARDLEY
24 Danny ROWE
30 Alex WOODYARD
Substitutes
21 Josh VICKERS
2 Sean LONG
4 Elliott WHITEHOUSE
8 Ollie PALMER (64’ for Rhead)
15 James WILSON (46’ for Waterfall)
26 Harry ANDERSON (46’ for Williams)
32 Cameron STEWART
GOAL: Wilson 47’
Booking: Rhead 45’
Attendance: 3,161 (1,881 Imps Supporters)