Barnet remain unbeaten away from home this season after a John Akinde header earned the Bees a 1-1 draw with Braintree Town.

The powerful striker headed Barnet in front in the 12th minute but the goal was cancelled out when Jordan Cox nodded home from close range towards the end of the opening period.

Both sides had chances in the second half. The best of which saw Akinde lob the ball onto the roof of the net after being put through on goal.

Barnet travelled to Braintree with only one defeat in nine league matches.

There was one change forced upon Martin Allen. Lee Cook picked up an injury in the weekend win against Forest Green and missed the game. Sam Muggleton was his replacement.

Barnet dominated the early stages. The Bees controlled possession and looked dangerous when they attacked.

Jon Nurse fired a shot harmlessly over but, 12 minutes into the contest, the visitors went in front.

Curtis Weston did well to keep the ball in play and his excellent cross into the penalty area was met by Akinde and he steered his header into the top corner.

Barnet were close to adding a second when Akinde connected with a Togwell corner but, this time, his effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Braintree had made a sluggish start but began to gain a foothold in the contest. They had the ball in the net through Simeon Akinola but the striker’s close range finish was ruled out for offside.

Clear chances were hard to come by during the remainder of the half for Barnet, Sam Hoskins' strike from 20 yards which went wide was the best Barnet managed.

And Braintree took heart from that. They started to commit more men forward and equalised nine minutes before the interval.

Muggleton failed to control a routine pass in midfield and the Iron broke forward. The ball was moved to Ryan Peters and his cross found Cox.

The striker powerfully headed towards goal and, despite getting a hand on the ball, Graham Stack couldn’t stop the effort finding the net.

The two sides went into the half time break level. Allen decided to make two changes. Mauro Vilhete and Luke Gambin replaced Elliot Johnson and Jon Nurse.

Braintree started the second period brightly. They put pressure on the Barnet goal and Kenny Davis flashed a cross over narrowly wide of Stack’s far post.

The Bees goalkeeper was the forced into routine saves from Massy and Akinola.

It took a while for Barnet to rediscover their attacking threat in the second period but three chances were created in quick succession.

Akinde curled a shot over before he lifted the ball over Braintree goalkeeper Nick Hamann and onto the roof of the net after a long pass forward put him through on goal.

Former Iron defender Andy Yiadom then sent a low shot wide from 20 yards.

The game had become scrappy and Braintree’s players produced several strong challenges that enraged the travelling Barnet fans. Muggleton was forced off by one with an injury and was replaced by Luisma Villa. Vilhete moved into left back.

The change sparked the game into life and the game opened up. Curtis Weston saw a shot well saved by Hamann before the Iron broke and Cox scuffed a close range volley wide. Walker then had a shot deflected narrowly over.

Part-time side Braintree began to tire in the closing stages and Weston and Yiadom both had shots saved by Hamman.

The Bees were unable to find a winner, however, and had to settle for another point on their travels.

Braintree Town: Hamann; Peters, Brundle, Massey, Habergham; Walker, Isaac, Davis, Mulley; Akinola, Cox.

Braintree Town substitutes: Smith, Case, Moore, Pentney.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N’Gala, Stephens, Muggleton (Villa 68); Nurse (Vilhete HT), Weston, Togwell, Johnson (Gambin HT); Akinde, Hoskins.

Barnet substitutes: Pavey, Saville.

Attendance: 1,167