Barnet 1 Lincoln 2

THE SUPPORTERS who toiled with the ground staff to clear the snow from the Underhill pitch so that this game could be staged did not see their efforts go to waste as they saw their team produce an entertaining brand of attacking football, only for a last-minute goal to deny Barnet a point that would have been the very least they deserved.

Substitute Lenell John-Lewis rose majestically to meet an inch-perfect cross from Joe Anderson and the ball sailed in off the inside of the post to consign Barnet to a defeat that would have felt like daylight robbery.

An Ismail Yakubu header had earlier cancelled out an excellent Cian Hughton opener. Barnet certainly did not start the game like a team who have endured a run of 10 games without the taste of victory, as they took the game to their relegation-threatened visitors from the first whistle.

Lincoln's Matthew Saunders saw an early free-kick drilled wide of the post, and that was to be their only attempt on goal for some time.

The pace of the two Alberts – Adomah and Jarrett – down the flanks troubled Lincoln's full-backs all afternoon, with the pair sending a number of dangerous deliveries into the box for Jake Hyde and John O'Flynn to feed off.

The ball was largely trapped inside the away side's half for the first quarter of the game and the best chance of the half for the home side arrived thanks to the efforts of Jarrett. The winger's deep corner found the head of Mark Hughes, who powered an effort towards goal, only for keeper Rob Burch to throw out a hand and palm the ball over the bar.

The miss was to prove costly, as Barnet were made to pay in the severest manner possible for not converting their dominance into goals.

With 30 minutes gone Kenny Gillet was scythed down on the far touchline, but referee Jock Waugh elected to award a throw-in to Lincoln and, with the full-back lying prone just off the field, the visitors immediately exploited the vacant left-back area. One pass saw Hughton gallop clear and after carrying the ball into the area, he lashed in an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

It was extremely harsh on Barnet, but Ian Hendon's men responded well, creating a series of chances to draw level.

Gillet failed to recover from the knock and minutes later he was replaced by Ahmed Deen.

Five minutes after the goal, the Bees should have found the equaliser. It was no surprise that Jarrett and Adomah were at the heart of the action, as the former found his counterpart at the back post. Adomah nodded the ball back into the mix and O'Flynn steadied himself before firing towards goal, only for a combination of Burch and his defenders to keep the Irishman out.

Jarrett found more joy down the left, toying with the right-back before digging out another good cross. This time skipper Micah Hyde got on the end of it but his shot was cleared off the line.

Adomah then sparked a goalmouth scramble after he bustled his way into the area, but Lincoln again survived and managed to clear the danger.

The pattern of the game did not change as the teams emerged for the second half.

Playing up the slope, Barnet still managed to dominate possession and perhaps should have scored when Ryan O'Neill flung himself at Adomah's pinpoint centre, only for the full-back's header to sail over the bar.

With 22 minute left, Hendon handed a debut to midfielder Lee Sawyer, who came on for the impressive Hughes in an attempt to inject some fresh legs in to the Bees' assault.

As the hosts surged forward, Lincoln hit them on the break, a superb lofted ball over the top from Matthew Saunders picked out goalscorer Hughton, who beat the offside trap and scampered through on goal, only for the diving Jake Cole to come to Barnet's rescue.

It was to prove a pivotal moment in the game, as just a minute later the home side were level, and it was that man Jarrett who, fittingly, was the provider.

After winning a free-kick 40 yards out from goal, the winger's initial delivery was cut out, but Hyde gave him a second chance to find his mark. And he did just that, swinging a devilish ball into the box which defender Ismail Yakubu was only to grateful to nod into the corner after being allowed to rise unchallenged.

It was the least the Bees deserved, and Hendon immediately went for the jugular, throwing on veteran forward Paul Furlong for the lively O'Flynn to add some muscle to the frontline.

Joe Devera headed another Jarrett corner over the bar as the game entered its final ten minutes, with Barnet desperately seeking a winner.

John-Lewis was thrown into the mix for the ineffective Delroy Facey, and it was to prove a pivotal substitution.

Great hold up play from Furlong created the space for Adomah, who had switched sides with Jarrett, to race down the right. He lifted the ball in for Sawyer to acrobatically volley towards goal, only for it to be deflected clear by a Lincoln defender, although no without a hint of a handball.

However, with the final breakaway of the game, John-Lewis popped up to break Barnet's hearts.