Barnet 2 Shrewsbury Town 2 (From Times Series)

Barnet 2 Shrewsbury Town 2

4:53pm Saturday 15th August 2009 in Sport By Paul Wreyford

New signing Jake Hyde struck a brace to earn Barnet their first point of the season.

It was the youngster's first full start for the Bees and he did not disappoint.

Shocked by an early Shrewsbury goal, Barnet fought back to lead at half-time, only for the visitors to equalise in the second half.

A point was perhaps scant reward for the Bees who created a whole host of chances, particularly in the opening 45 minutes.

They can at least take encouragement from another promising display, against a side many have tipped for promotion.

Barnet boss Ian Hendon made just one change from the side that put up such a good show against Watford in midweek, Yannick Bolasie making way for striker Jake Hyde.

And Hyde almost struck with his first touch. A superb Kenny Gillet through-ball set the youngster on his way, but he could not round keeper Chris Neal, who was out quickly to avert the danger.

The Shrews did even better with their first chance, Nathan Elder stunning the hosts with the game's opening goal inside two minutes. Elder was allowed to ghost into the box and then launch himself at a cross, the striker's diving header from close in giving keeper Jake Cole no chance.

The home side responded well to the early set-back and Micah Hyde forced Neal into a flying save on 15 minutes, the keeper pushing his 20-yard shot round the post.

Five minutes later, Paul Furlong was inches wide when he beat Neal to an Albert Adomah cross, the veteran's brave header finishing inches wide of the far post.

Furlong had an even better chance to level on 28 minutes, after Craig Disley had tripped Adomah in the box.

But Furlong's penalty, driven low to Neal's left, was pushed away by the Shrewsbury keeper.

Just when you thought the Bees would never score, they finally got their reward on the half-hour. Adomah chipped into the box and Jake Hyde, on his full debut, steered a header in off the far post. It was no more than the hosts deserved.

The Bees continued to dominate and Barnet were awarded a second penalty when Jake Hyde was prevented from reaching a long ball into the box three minutes before the interval.

Hyde dusted himself down and drilled the ball low into the centre, Neal this time getting nowhere near the ball.

The hosts started the second half just as brightly, continuing to play some excellent football, but the Shrews were still a threat and Cole and to push away a Paul Murray grass-cutter on 55 minutes.

And, from the corner, Dave Hibbert rose at the near post to head home a Shane Cansdell-Sherriff centre for the equaliser.

Disley then fired just wide as the visitors stole the initiative.

But Barnet refused to let their heads drop, and Daniel Leach clipped the bar with a far-post header following an Albert Jarrett corner.

The Shrews should have taken the lead on 65 minutes, but Elder sent a free header wide with just Cole to beat. It was an awful miss and a big let-off for the Bees.

The game was now wide open, the play swinging from end to end.

Hibbert had another great chance, but, under pressure from Leach, fired straight at Cole.

Disley also put a free header over, as Shrewsbury now started to look the likelier to find a winner.

However, Ismail Yakubu almost stole it four minutes from time, his header looping just over the bar, as Barnet went for one final push.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; O'Neill, Yakubu, Leach, Gillet; Adomah, Hughes (Deverdics 68), M Hyde, Jarrett (Bolasie 78); J Hyde, Furlong. Subs not used: Carpenter, Devera, Kamjdo, Deen, Charles.

Attendance: 1,835.