Barnet had a second away victory in four days snatched away at the death in a re-arranged 2-2 draw at Newport County.

The Bees had recovered from being a goal down at the interval with a brace from John Akinde to lead 2-1 until the last minute of normal time.

After Saturday’s 2-0 win at Wycombe on Saturday, head coach Martin Allen made just one change to his starting 11, with Alex Nicholls replacing Luke Gambin for the re-arranged game.

The Bees were leading 1-0 in early September when the match was abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch, Akinde having given the Bees an early lead.

The Exiles have rallied under new boss Graham Westley and he included in his line-up the former Arsenal and Barnet midfielder Mark Randall.

The Bees boosted by their performance at Adams Park on Saturday were the first to settle, forcing a corner in the first minute and then moments later a Sam Muggleton free-kick from outside the box went just wide of the target.

Justin Hoyte who had returned to the fray after a nine-month lay-off at the weekend was substituted after 16 minutes with a hamstring injury. Barnet took some time to re-adjust to this set-back as the home side came to the fore.

Newport took the lead in the 33rd minute when Ben Tozer headed into the bottom left corner of the goal from a Josh Sheenan delivery.

The home crowd were now in good voice; hopeful of a victory that would propel them towards safety from their current position at the bottom of the League 2 table.

Reece Grego-Cox went close to doubling the Exiles lead just before half-time but his left footed strike was high and wide.

The Bees could point to efforts from Ryan Watson and Mauro Vilhete but it was clear that Barnet would need to up their game in the second-half if they were to get anything out of the game.

During the interval Curtis Weston was replaced by Shaun Batt as Barnet adopted a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation with Batt providing closer support for the isolated Akinde.

Watson twice went close for the Bees early in the second-half, once with a volley from distance after a Sam Muggleton long-throw had not been cleared and then after Akinde had careered down the left he could not covert the chance despite being centrally positioned.

In the 65th minute Randall, who had scored for Barnet in this corresponding fixture last season, nearly extended his new employer’s advantage, but his effort was wide of a post.

The Bees were moving purposefully forward with Muggleton’s long throw, from either side of the pitch, a not inconsiderable weapon.

Alie Sesay went close from a Muggleton throw and moments later in the 76th minute Akinde was a hand to head home another Muggleton missile to put the Bees on level terms.

Sensing blood and a third away victory of the campaign the Bees sought to take the lead and their guts and determination were rewarded in the 85th minute when Akinde thumped the ball home from 25yards for his 11th League goal of the season.

Under Westley the Exiles have shown more resilience and whilst they are yet to secure a victory under his stewardship they have proved more difficult to beat.

In the 89th minute Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro was deemed to have fouled Jennison Myrie-Williams in the penalty area to concede a debated penalty with Sean Rigg duly converting from 12-yards.

The Bees now needed to show a firm resolve themselves in the closing minutes as the Exiles piled forward, but the Barnet rear-guard were prepared to put their bodies on the line as they held onto the draw.

There was a sense of disappointment come the final whistle at drawing against the side that props up the table but four points in four days from two away fixtures must be considered a reasonable haul.

Barnet: Vickers; Hoyte (Watson 14), N’Gala (Akpa Akpro 59), Nelson, Muggleton; Nicholls, Sesay, Champion, Vilhete; Weston (Batt 45); Akinde.

Unused subs: Stephens, Dembele, H. Taylor, Kyei.