Barnet will face a replay with Chelmsford City on Tuesday night after being held to a goalless draw in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round this afternoon.

The Bees were unable to find a way past Chelmsford stopper Tony Thompson, who was named man-of-the-match for his part in ensuring the Clarets will have another crack at The Hive next week. 

Martin Allen sprung a surprise by starting John Akinde, who had been declared unavailable earlier in the week, as well as including Lee Cook amongst the substitutes.

Barnet’s two changes saw Jon Nurse and Cook drop to the bench, with their places taken by Mauro Vilhete and Sam Hoskins.

With seven substitutes permitted in the FA Cup, Sam Cowler and Matt Stevens were included on the bench.

Graham Stack started in goal, with Andy Yiadom, Bondz N’Gala and Vilhete in front of him. Luisma Villa and Elliot Johnson began on the flanks, with Curtis Weston and Sam Togwell paired in midfield. John Akinde and Hoskins were the two forwards.

Chelmsford boss Mark Hawkes brought defensive pair Robert Girdlestone and Mark Haines into his side, which included former Bee, Mark Hughes. Another ex-Barnet player, Nick Nicolau, was amongst the substitutes.

In a stiff breeze and on a bobbly surface, the two sides traded early aerial chances, with Hoskins nodding over from a Weston cross for the Bees, whilst Christian Smith headed a Chelmsford corner over after Stack failed to punch clear.

The home side carved out the best opportunity of the early stages when the dangerous Rohdell Gordon crossed for Michael Cheek, who in controlling the ball narrowed the angle from which he was able to shoot, dragging his effort into the side netting.

Barnet started to get more of a foothold in the game shortly before the half-hour mark, and came within inches of taking the lead when N’Gala connected with a deep corner kick to stab wide at the far post.

Seconds earlier, Luisma had won the set piece when he let fly with a half-volley which was deflected over the bar. The Spaniard had seen a previous volleyed effort go comfortably over Thompson’s crossbar.

The quick-thinking of Gordon down the left carved out an excellent chance for City ten minutes before the break. The winger used the outside of his boot to steer a cross away from Stack, but Joe Ward was unable to connect at the far post.

Neither side could make the breakthrough before half-time, and although both sides had created good chances, it was arguably the Conference South side who had come closest in the first period.

Looking to avoid being taken to a replay at The Hive, Allen introduced Cook at half-time in place of Luisma, meaning Johnson reverted to left-back, with Vilhete and Cook taking up the wide midfield berths.

Barnet began the second-half brightly and nearly took advantage of Yado Mambo’s failure to shield the ball back to goalkeeper Thompson, Hoskins almost latching onto the loose ball before the keeper cleared.

The forward then saw another chance go to waste when his shot on the turn was blocked inside the penalty area.

Chelmsford’s first chance of the second period came when Yiadom inadvertently nudged the ball towards his own goal with his knee; Stack alert enough to claim the loose ball inside the six-yard box.

From there, Barnet broke and Hoskins cut back for captain Weston to stab goalwards from close-range, but the midfielder was unable to test Thompson, who made a routine catch.

Stephens had Barnet’s best chance of the game in the 70th minute when he met Cook’s corner from the left, but saw his thumping header blocked on the line.

Chelmsford had been dangerous in the air throughout the tie, and with chances at a premium following a bright start to the second-half, the hosts came close when Cheek rose highest but was able only to connect with the advertising hoardings at the back post.

Mambo latched onto another free kick late on, but saw his header drift harmlessly wide.

With the final ten minutes seeping away and the prospect of a replay at The Hive on Tuesday evening, Barnet began to take control; Weston testing Thompson with a low 25-yard drive which required saving at the near post.

Another good Barnet chance was repelled n the 89th minute, Vilhete bringing a full-length stop out of Thompson on the run, after the Bees broke at pace.

The Portuguese then came close once more, clipping the crossbar with a shot just seconds after testing Thompson.

Stephens came close again at the death, but saw his looping header headed to safety at the back post in what was to prove Barnet’s final chance.

Barnet are ball number 78 in the FA Cup first round proper draw, with the draw to take place at 7pm on BBC Two on Monday evening. 

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, Stephens, N’Gala, Vilhete; Luisma (Cook HT), Weston, Togwell, Johnson; Akinde, Hoskins (Stevens 70).

Subs: Cowler (GK), Saville, Gambin, Nurse, Mekki.

Chelmsford City: Thompson; Girdlestone, Haines (Ekpiteta 65), Mambo, Redwood; Ward (Kouassi 72), Sawyer, Hughes, Smith, Gordon; Cheek.

Subs: Freund (GK), Morgan, Callander, Nicolau, Barham.

Referee: Mr Craig Hicks.

Attendance: 1,844.