Barnet's Ben May scored the equaliser

League Two: Barnet 1 Hereford 1

Delroy Facey opened the scoring for Hereford at Barnet

Barnet picked up a vital point at home to Hereford to keep the north London side three points clear of their opponents in the battle to avoid relegation out of the Football League.

Delroy Facey’s 11th minute goal was cancelled out by Ben May after half an hour and although both sides pushed for the winner a point apiece was probably deserved in a match which lacked any quality in front of goal.

The Bees were in desperate need of a win that would lift them six points clear of the Bulls, with only three games remaining but found themselves chasing the game from an early stage.

Delroy Facey opened the scoring for Hereford after only 11 minutes when he headed home Ben Purkiss’ cross as Barnet fell asleep at the back to allow the journeyman too much time and space to guide the ball past Bees goalkeeper Dean Brill.

The home side changed their shape after only 25 minutes of the game with full back Sead Hajrovic replaced by striker Ben May.

The substitution paid dividends on the half hour mark as the former Millwall and Brentford man latched onto the loose ball after Izale McLeod failed to pull the trigger and he made no mistake from 12 yards.

The home side could have gone in ahead at the interval but Clovis Kamdjo headed over Mark Byrne’s corner with the last touch of the first half.

Both sides looked nervous during the opening stages of the second half with the ball spending more time in the air than on the ground.

The visitors had the first opportunity after 58 minutes when Facey found his way into the penalty area but Michael Hector produced an excellent tackle to deny the striker.

Back came the home side and captain Mark Hughes produced a deft shot that went wide after good work by Clovis Kamdjo.

McLeod had a golden opportunity to put his side ahead on the hour mark, but the Barnet striker fired his shot across the face of goal and wide.

The pressure continued and Mark Byrne then dragged a shot comfortably wide as the home side looked to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Sam Deering was the next man to fire the ball wide from a good position as the match ticked into the final 15 minutes.

Hereford should have retaken the lead when Facey was put though on goal but his poor first touch took the ball out wide and the former Bolton man failed to put his shot on target.

Brill and Kamdjo came to the home side’s rescue with three minutes remaining as substitute Yoann Arquin went through on goal.

The Bees stopper denied the first attempt while the defender was on hand to clear the rebound off the line as the match reached a fantastic conclusion.

Barnet: Brill, Hajrovic (May 25), Downing, Hector, Mustoe, Hughes, Byrne, Kamdjo, Holmes, Deering, McLeod.

Substitutes Not Used: O’Brien, Yiadom, Saville, N’Diaye.

Goals: May 31.

Booked: Hughes, Holmes

Sent Off:

Hereford: Bartlett, Chambers (Baxendale 77), Anthony, Townsend, Purkiss, Barkhuizen, Lunt, Evans (Arquin 57), Featherstone, Clucas, Facey (Elder 90).

Substitutes Not Used: Colbeck, Stam.

Goals: Facey 11.

Booked: Townsend, Purkiss

Sent Off:

Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 3,189.