The Bees were made to settle for their fifth consecutive draw in matchday 18 of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League Two Season as Britt Assombalonga’s first-half strike was cancelled out to share the spoils with a struggling Harrogate Town side at the Hive.
Dean Brennan made just the one change from last weekend’s draw away at Gillingham, with Britt Assombalonga leading the line and replacing Lee Ndlovu who took his place on the bench.
The opening stages of the tie were fairly scrappy, with both sides taking time to find their feet after kick-off.
Harrogate Town’s Conor McAleny had a flury of early chances, with one being blocked well by the Bees’ backline, one hitting the side netting and another being tipped onto the bar by Cieran Slicker in the Barnet net.
The first chance for the Bees came from a Slicker free-kick from inside his own half. The ball fell nicely to Assombalonga who sent a powerful shot towards goal, but James Belshaw was able to parry it away for the visitors.
Our number 27 found the back of the net shortly after, giving the Bees the lead with a beautiful strike from nothing on his first league start. The 32-year-old capitalised on complacency in the Harrogate defence to put the ball away for his first league goal for the Bees.
Just after the half an hour mark, Adam Senior delivered the ball beautifully into the area and Callum Stead went for the diving header, but our number ten couldn’t connect with the ball to put it in the back of the net.
Barnet were awarded a penalty with just minutes to go in the first-half after Kanu was fouled in the area. Shelton stepped up, but couldn’t convert from the spot, with Belshaw getting low to deny the Bees to double their advantage heading into the break.
Half-time: Barnet FC 1-0 Harrogate Town
The Bees started the stronger side in the second 45, with the ball finding its way into the Harrogate box on a number of occasions, but nothing to trouble the visiting shot-stopper.
Chances kept coming for the hosts and Idris Kanu played the ball to the feet of Assombalonga who went on a long sprint into the final third, but before he could get his shot away, he was fouled in the area, but referee Elliott Swallow waved away shouts for a second Bees’ penalty.
It was then Kanu’s turn to drive goalwards with the ball at his feet, but before he could release the ball to a teammate, he was surrounded by Sulphurite shirts and looked to be taken down on the edge of the area, but the referee wasn’t interested.
A double change was made as the clock struck 70 minutes, with Lee Ndlovu and Rhy Browne coming on in place of Stead and goalscorer Assombalonga in the attacking positions.
Browne was straight in on the action as he looped a ball towards goal, but Belshaw was able to get an important hand to it before Ndlovu could pounce on it.
The momentum continued to swing in the Bees’ favour and this time it was Kanu who worked the ball excellently in the box and shot from close-range, but he sent the ball just over the bar.
Harrogate found an equaliser from a corner against the run of play with 78 minutes on the clock. Jack Muldoon was able to get away from Senior to send a header into the back of the net to level proceedings.
Oli Hawkins was introduced in the final moments, replacing Kane Smith and was soon on the end of an effort when Glover looped the ball towards the number 12, but he couldn’t direct his header on target.
Browne then had an effort blocked on the line following a short corner taken quickly, before the referee added four minutes onto the end of the second 45 and with no more goalmouth action, the points were shared at the final whistle.
Full-time: Barnet FC 1-1 Harrogate Town
Line-up: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Stead (Ndlovu, 70’), Kanu, Glover, Shelton, Smith (Hawkins, 85’), Tavares, Assombalonga (Browne,70’), Ofoborh
Goals: Assombalonga (23’)
Attendance: 2,187, with 145 visitors