Ryan Glover’s last gasp leveller stole a point from the grasp of Sutton United, who had previously come from behind late in the second half.
Ashley Nadesan broke the deadlock after 21 minutes when he latched onto Jack Wadham’s through ball and fired past Nick Hayes, before strikes in quick succession from Glover and Adebola Oluwu sent the Bees into the break ahead.
Chances for Nadesan and Lewis Simper saw the U’s go close to levelling after the break, before Will Davies met the former’s cross from the right flank to equalise, before Besart Topallaj put the visitors ahead moments later when he pounced on an underhit backpass.
The U’s battled for the remainder of the game and came within seconds of securing victory to end the year, but eight minutes of added time allowed Barnet to put a barrage of pressure on Sutton’s backline, with Glover popping up at the death to steal a point.
A draw at The Hive sees Sutton end the year 12th in the Vanarama National League table, and will be looking to return to winning ways with the visit of Aldershot Town on New Year’s Day.
Three changes to the starting XI saw Hayden Muller, Ryan Jackson and Wadham return to the side, but it was the hosts who produced the first chance of proceedings as an early opportunity for Myles Kenlock saw the Barnet man fire just over the crossbar, before a promising chance fell to the visitors inside soon after. Simper sent Topallaj away down the left before linking up with Wadham, who teed up Davies who couldn’t keep his effort on target.
This preceded an opening at the other end with Jack Sims producing a strong stop to deny Callum Stead, before the U’s drew first blood on Boxing Day.
Muller superbly drove through the middle before laying it off to Wadham, who threaded an inch-perfect ball through to Nadesan who made no mistake from close range.
The U’s lead would last just nine minutes though, as Glover drew level in style as he fired a looping ball into the top corner from distance.
And Barnet would find themselves in front shortly before the break, with Oluwu heading Ben Coker’s cross passed Sims to send the Bees into the break ahead.
A early chance for Nadesan at the start of the second half saw the U’s goalscorer almost add to his tally, trying his luck from distance with his effort flying inches wide.
Jackson was withdrawn just six minutes after the restart with Dillon De Silva taking his place on the right flank, and injected some much needed energy into the U’s side. A chance would fall to the visitors almost immediately after, with Topallaj sending a powerful shot at goal which forced Hayes into a strong save, before Nadesan fired the rebound wide.
A chance from distance would then fall to Stead who struck just off target, before a wonderful opportunity fell to Simper on the edge of the box. Nadesan wonderfully picked out the U’s number eight who tried his luck x with a half volley, but his effort drifted just wide of the target.
Nonetheless, this proved to be a warning sign for the hosts, and Sutton drew level moments later when De Silva superbly sent Nadesan away down the right flank who picked out Davies in the middle, with the U’s top scorer getting the ball under control before firing beyond Hayes to level.
And it got even better for the U’s minutes later, with Topallaj showing excellent strength and determination to get the ball away from Glover and then Kenlock. The on-loan Bromley man didn’t stop running after he had seemingly lost possession though, capitalising on a weak backpass from the latter to find himself one on one with Hayes, and showing composure to fire beyond the Bees goalkeeper to net his first goal for the U’s and give them the lead as well.
A couple of late changes saw Chin Okoli replace Wadham and Nana Boateng replace Nadesan in an attempt to see out what would be an excellent victory on the road, although Barnet kept pushing with Sims denying Nicke Kabamba from close range, before a couple of chances for Mark Shelton came ever so close to levelling for the Bees, first striking just wide of the target before hitting the post from distance moments later.
Eight minutes had been added on at the end of the second half and gave time for Barnet to continue mounting pressure on the U’s defence. A soft free kick would be given dep into stoppage time, with Glover breaking Sutton hearts at the death to poke the ball over the line and secure a draw for the Bees.
Barnet: Hayes; Coker (Kabamba 57′), Collinge, Stead, Glover, Brunt (Kanu 66′), Hartigan, Shelton, Oluwu, Tavares (Cropper 85′), Kenlock
Sutton United: Sims; French, Muller, Waller; Jackson (De Silva 51′), Barbrook, Simper, Topallaj; Nadesan (Boateng 90+4′), Wadham (Okoli 82′); Davies
