Barnet boss Martin Allen admitted nerves were to blame for the Bees’ poor first-half showing in their 1-1 draw at Kidderminster Harriers and declared they would have to be better to win the Conference in seven days’ time.

Trailing to a goal from Danny Wright, Barnet fought back after the restart and with full-backs Andy Yiadom and Elliott Johnson playing high up the pitch to help pin Harriers in their own half, grabbed a priceless equaliser courtesy of substitute Luisma Villa.

The Spaniard converted Curtis Weston’s cross from close range to seal a draw which means Barnet remain a point clear of Bristol Rovers at the summit with a goal difference of 14 in their favour.

However, that summary does not tell the half of it.

Rovers were heading back to the top with a point’s cushion after taking the lead through Ellis Harrison, meaning Barnet would have to win and hope Rovers dropped points against Alfreton Town on the final day.

But a Ricky Modeste goal two minutes from time ensured the Conference title picture remains the same ahead of Saturday’s showdown at home to Gateshead.

Reflecting on the result at Aggborough, Allen said: “It was always going to be an edgy day and a tricky afternoon – there is no doubt about that. With the wind swirling in it made it tricky to get the ball down and actually play. But these games are never going to be easy for the players, just like it wasn’t for the supporters.

“It was a fantastic second half where we played very well. I don’t know how many times we hit the crossbar or how many chances we had to bury the game. It is very exciting now.

“It was too edgy and too nervy in the first half; we just kept kicking the ball [long]. You have got to play and with the players we have got, open it up and play. You have to be brave to play and in the first half we did not do that – that is the most disappointing thing.”

He added: “We have got to play better than that [against Gateshead], that is for sure.”

Below-par in the first 45 minutes, Allen’s men tore out of the blocks in the second half and with the bit between their teeth, laid siege on Danny Lewis’ goal.

John Akinde hit the crossbar with a deft header and saw an excellent one-on-one chance squandered as the Bees went in search of maximum points.

Dissecting the second-half showing, Allen mused: “We changed the formation at half-time and we played a different way and it gave us some momentum playing with two up front and Curtis (Weston) in behind.

“It was virtually three up front with Curtis bombing on and he is in such a good vein of goal-scoring form. We played with three midfield players and that allowed us to get our full-backs higher up the pitch and into better areas.”

The Bees boss continued: “We just generally played better. You can’t just smash the ball forward and expect your full-backs to run 40 yards in three seconds – they would be Olympic gold medallists if they could do that.

“You have got to make some passes to get your full-backs in the game and in the second half, thankfully, we did that.”

You can read the match report from an action-packed afternoon by clicking here.