Goals from Curtis Weston and John Akinde ensured Barnet drew 2-2 with Dover Athletic at The Hive this afternoon

Dover took a 2-0 lead before the break, with Tom Murphy and Stefan Payne scoring inside the opening 20 minutes.

The Bees pulled one back inside the first minute of the second half, Curtis Weston slamming home. John Akinde then pulled the home side level from close range in the 76th minute.

Barnet made two changes, with Bondz N’Gala and Luisma Villa taking the places of David Stephens and Mauro Vilhete – both of whom dropped to the bench.

Also amongst the substitutes was Keanu Marsh-Brown, who had not been involved in the matchday 16 for a league fixture since the 3-3 draw with Kidderminster Harriers on October 11.

Graham Stack was between the sticks, with Andy Yiadom, N’Gala, Jack Saville and Elliott Johnson in front of him.

Luisma, Weston, Sam Togwell and Lee Cook were the midfield quartet, supplying the ammunition for Akinde and Charlie MacDonald.

The returning Luisma had the game’s first chance when he whipped in an audacious free kick from way out on the left-hand edge of the penalty area which Dover goalkeeper Andy Rafferty palmed over.

Rafferty did well to keep the game scoreless from the resulting corner, blocking a near-post header with lightning-quick reactions.

Just 60 seconds later the visitors were in front. Payne’s initial snap-shot from close range was well-blocked by the chest of Stack, but Murphy was on hand to rattle home the rebound for The Whites.

Murphy almost helped himself to a second a couple of minutes later but could only nod a left-wing cross straight into the palms of Stack.

Dover had been well on top, with Barnet unable to get the ball out wide and struggling to find a way past the sizeable back five of Dover.

N’Gala prevented further damage when he nodded a cross over from a central position with a Dover player lurking unmarked at the back post.

Chris Kinnear’s side did score from the resulting set piece but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Stack.

However it mattered not, as a minute later, Payne charged towards the edge of the Barnet penalty area and arrowed expertly beyond Stack and into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

Barnet were still struggling to create chances, with creators-in-chief Cook and Luisma both peripheral figures. Reverting to long balls played into the visitors’ hands as Sean Raggett, Richard Orlu and Tom Bonner dealt with everything which came their way.

Chances finally began to come Barnet’s way with Yiadom curling into Rafferty’s grasp and Luisma lashing a left-footed effort – which had Rafferty beaten all ends up – into the side netting from 20 yards.

The half ended with the Bees very much on top but unable to get in behind the Dover backline.

Barnet got the first back after just 20 seconds of the second half starting to halve the deficit. A free kick from the left fell to Weston inside the penalty area and the midfielder side-footed beyond Rafferty with aplomb.

The Bees almost drew level seven minutes later when Luisma sent Akinde scampering away down the left before the striker curled agonizingly wide of the far post with Rafferty beaten.

Shortly before the hour Allen introduced Marsh-Brown in place of Luisma and the maverick winger came close to drawing Barnet level just a few minutes later. Drifting inside from the left, the former Fulham youngster bent a 25-yard effort narrowly over the Dover crossbar.

Barnet continued to push hard for an equaliser, piling the pressure on the Dover goal. Marsh-Brown again came close, slicing a right-footed half-volley wide, whilst Togwell’s deflected drive caused problems for Rafferty.

The Bees came closer still when Akinde rose unchallenged to flick a header wide of the far post after connecting with Cook’s left-wing centre.

With 14 minutes remaining, Barnet drew level. A cross from the left-hand side of the penalty area found its way to Akinde at the far post and the Conference’s top-scorer made no mistake in levelling the score.

Another substitute, Bernard Mensah, whipped over first time from Akinde’s cut back as Barnet continued to throw bodies forward in an attempt to find a winner.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N'Gala, Saville, Johnson (Mensah 72); Luisma (Marsh-Brown 57), Weston, Togwell, Cook (Stephens 88); Akinde, MacDonald.

Subs: Vilhete, Hunt.

Dover Athletic: Rafferty; Essam, Bonner, Orlu, Raggett, Sterling; Deverdics, Bellamy, Cogan (Wynter 87); Murphy, Payne (Poole 85).

Subs: Lock, Reid, Nanetti.

Referee: Justin Amey.

Attendance: 2,048 (220 away supporters).