Bondz N’Gala’s injury-time header secured a 2-1 victory for Barnet at Forest Green Rovers – just minutes after the home side looked to have grabbed an unlikely point.

N’Gala rose highest in a crowded penalty area to thump home from Sam Togwell’s delivery and snatch three points for the Bees, which minutes earlier had looked extremely unlikely, after Rob Sinclair’s dramatic leveller.

The Bees took the lead after 13 minutes when Andy Yiadom tucked home his second of the season from close-range after a missed John Akinde spot kick.

After a breathless first half, both teams struggled to turn possession into chances after the break, and with just two minutes remaining, Forest Green’s pressure finally brought an equaliser when Sinclair lashed home from close range.

Sam Hoskins made his full debut for Barnet alongside Akinde, in one of three changes made by Martin Allen.

Togwell came into the side in place of Sam Muggleton, partnering Curtis Weston in midfield, whilst Lee Cook replaced Luisma Villa. Jon Nurse dropped back into the right-hand side of midfield.

Graham Stack continued in goal, with Yiadom, David Stephens, N’Gala and Elliot Johnson in front of him.

For the Green, there was a re-call for Lee Hughes, who partnered new loan signing Christian Jolley up front.

Former Bee Clovis Kamdjo – who had been deputising up front – missed out through injury.

The hosts could have taken the lead inside in a minute when new loan signing Jolley appeared to get the better of Johnson, and for a split-second, seemed set to unleash a shot at Stack’s goal. However, a superb sliding challenge from the defender atoned for his initial slip and cleared the danger.

After 13 minutes the Bees took the lead and it was a familiar routine which was responsible for the breakthrough.

Akinde found himself through on goal following a defensive mix-up and, as he had done against Altrincham seven days earlier, drew goalkeeper Sam Russell into making an ill-advised challenge to win a penalty.

He then rolled the stroked the ball against the post in going for the same corner he had twice tucked into against the Robins, but Yiadom was on hand to place into the net with Russell prone.

The powerful forward ought to have added his second just a couple of minutes later, rounding Russell before shooting against the same post from an acute angle.

Barnet’s front two were causing the hosts problems and next it was the turn of Hoskins to go close, the Yeovil Town loanee sliding an effort narrowly wide on the run, following a neat interchange of passes.

Hoskins again came close after half-an-hour; linking up neatly with N’Gala on the edge of the 18-yard box before curling just wide of Russell’s far post.

Forest Green had struggled to work Stack, but came close when man-mountain centre-half Luke Oliver jabbed the ball forward for James Norwood, who rolled his marker before firing low into the grasp of the Bees’ number one.

Both sides struggled to carve out chances after the break, though the hosts looked more likely to make something happen.

But, for all their huff-and-puff, Ady Pennock’s side were unable to trouble Stack.

The Bees, on the other hand, had seen less of the ball than the first period and their best chance came when Togwell send a cross to the back post, where Akinde headed up rather than toward goal.

Substitute Kurtis Guthrie came closest to threatening an equaliser for the hosts, getting up well to flick a header wide following a cross from the right-hand flank.

The Bees’ best opportunity of the second-half materialised when two substitutes combined. Sam Muggleton’s cross reached debutant Alfie Pavey, via Jon Nurse, with the Millwall loanee shooting narrowly wide with the aid of a deflection.

With just two minutes remaining and the home side piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser, Barnet finally switched off and allowed Pennock’s men to level.

A deep cross from the the right by Sam Wedgbury found 6ft 7in defender Luke Oliver – acting as an auxiliary forward – and the centre-back headed across the face of goal to the unmarked Sinclair, who slammed home to snatch a point.

In injury time, Pavey won a corner when his shot was deflected wide. Togwell whipped the ball into the centre of the penalty area melee, where N’Gala climbed highest to crash a header past Russell and secure the points for Barnet.

Forest Green Rovers: Russell; Pipe, Oliver, Coles, Stokes; Sinclair, Norwood, Wedgbury, Kelly (Frear 78); Jolley (Guthrie 69), Hughes (Parkin 78).

Subs: Bennett, Oshodi.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N'Gala, Stephens, Johnson; Nurse, Togwell, Weston, Cook (Muggleton 63); Hoskins (Pavey 80), Akinde.

Subs: Cowler (GK), Gambin, Mekki.

Attendance: 1,423 (153 away).

Referee: Mr Adam Hopkins.