Barnet were held to a 2-2 draw by Cheltenham Town in a lunchtime League Two clash at The Hive yesterday. The league leaders needed a 78th-minute penalty from Kabongo Tshimanga to salvage a point after surrendering a first-half lead.
Dean Brennan's side remain top of the table with seven points from three games, their record reading two wins and a draw. They have scored eight goals and conceded four, giving them a healthy plus-four goal difference early in the campaign.
Charlie Lakin gave Barnet the lead in the 10th minute, converting an assist from Tshimanga for his third goal of the season. The Bees had chances to extend their advantage before the break. Danny Collinge saw a header cleared off the line by Andreas Weimann, and Jake Reeves struck the crossbar five minutes into the second half.
Cheltenham Town, managed by Steve Cotterill, turned the game with two quick goals. Ryan Broom capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Collinge and Nik Tavares to equalise on the hour mark. Just four minutes later, a short back pass from Myles Kenlock was seized upon, with Jake Evans setting up Charlie McCann to put the visitors ahead.
Barnet responded with a triple substitution in the 66th minute, introducing Jack Maskell, Tom Knowles, and Zac Williams. The pressure told when Tshimanga stepped up to convert a penalty twelve minutes from time, securing a share of the spoils. Goalkeeper Matt Cox made several important saves, including an early stop from Jake Evans.
The first major chance fell to Cheltenham inside nine minutes, requiring a save from Cox. Barnet's early goal settled nerves, but they were denied a clearer lead when Collinge's effort was cleared off the line. Lakin also had a penalty appeal waved away around the half-hour mark.
The two defensive errors that led to Cheltenham's goals proved costly. After the equaliser, a misplaced pass from substitute Jack Maskell almost gifted Joe Tomlinson a third for the visitors, but Cox was again equal to it. The penalty decision and Tshimanga's cool finish ultimately earned Barnet a point their overall play perhaps deserved.
Dean Brennan made one change from the side that beat Shrewsbury Town the previous Saturday, with Myles Kenlock coming in at left back for Zac Williams, who dropped to the bench. There was a positive sight on the bench as Isiah Noel-Williams returned from a pre-season injury. The depth was tested with the triple change, showing Brennan's options as the fixture list builds.
Maintaining their unbeaten start keeps Barnet in a strong position at the summit. The defensive solidity that had seen them concede just twice in two games was breached, but the character to fight back was evident.
The point ensures Barnet stay at the top of League Two, a useful result against a seasoned opponent like Cheltenham. The focus now shifts to preparing for the next challenge and maintaining their early-season momentum. With eight goals scored already, the attacking threat is clear, but tightening up at the back will be a priority in training. The squad's fitness and options are looking robust, as shown by the return of Noel-Williams and the impact of substitutes. Fans can keep an eye on all the latest player data and team news via our squad and stats hubs.
