Barnet gained a point in their first group match in the EFL Trophy with a 2-2 draw at MK Dons, but did not collect the bonus point on offer when they lost 5-3 in the penalty shoot-out at the end of normal time.

Head coach Martin Allen selected a strong team for the fixture, making just three changes to his starting line-up from the team that lost 1-0 to Carlisle at the Hive on Saturday.

Josh Vickers came in for keeper Jamie Stephens; Sam Muggleton and Mauro Vilhete being selected ahead of Ryan Watson and Jean Louis Akpa Akpro.

The home side looked the brighter in the early exchanges and they created two good openings in the first few minutes of the game.

Ben Reeves gave the Dons the lead in the 17th minute with an unstoppabe shot into the top corner which left Vickers flailing.

The Bees then had an opportunity for  leveller when a goalwards header from John Akinde fell marginally wide of the target.

Approaching the half-hour mark skipper Michael Nelson got his head on the end of a free-kick but his effort lack enough power to trouble the Dons' keeper Lee Nichols.

Reeves was a danger for the Dons and he should have extended the home sides' lead with half-time approaching but Vickers was equal to the challenge and was able to keep out his stinging efforts.

The visitors made two substitutions during the interval with Justin Amaluzor and Akpa Akpro replacing Harry Taylor and Muggleton.

Early in the second-half the Dons had further opportunities to extend their lead but signs of a Barnet revival came when an Amaluzor delivery into the middle ended with Curtis Weston trying his luck with a shot.

The Bees levelled in the 62nd minute, with Amaluzor again involved. The winger's cross was met by Alex Nicholls who deftly placed his volley past Nicholls in the Dons' goal.

Against the odds the Bees then forged ahead just ten minutes later. Another dangerous cross from Amaluzor was met by Akinde who set-up Weston who was able to force the ball home.

It was now the Dons who were in search of an equaliser and it would arrive with just eight minutes left on the clock.

The Dons' centre-back Joe Walsh was on hand to head home a Dean Bowditch free-kick despite a valient dive by Vickers.

With both sides searching for a win there were chances for both sides in the closing minutes; Amaluzor going closest for the Bees.

The 2-2 draw meant that both sides have a point to their names but the home side scored all five of their spot-kicks with the Bees finding the target on three occasions.

Barnet showed determination to claw their way back into this game with a gutsy second-half performance.

Barnet: Vickers; Vilhete, N’Gala, Nelson, Muggleton; Togwell; H. Taylor (Amaluzor HT), Weston, Muggleton (Akpa Akpro 45); Nicholls, Akinde (Tomlinson 79).

Subs not used: Stephens, Watson, Champion, J. Taylor.