Barnet were forced to settle for a point against Leyton Orient in EFL League Two in an even London derby at The Hive.

Real chances were in short supply for both sides, though the Bees pushed hard for the win to no avail.

Martin Allen made five changes from the side which drew 2-2 with Morecambe at The Hive on Tuesday evening. 

In came Josh Vickers, Bira Dembele, Harry Taylor, Luke Gambin and Shaun Batt. Out went Jamie Stephens, Bondz N’Gala, Curtis Weston, Alex Nicholls and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro. 

Goalscoring chances were few and far between in the first half, though Barnet probably had the best through the returning Gambin.

Orient’s Harry Cornick brought a good stop out of Bees keeper Vickers after seven minutes, the Swansea City loanee tipping the midfielder’s rising drive over the bar at the near post.

O’s skipper Liam Kelly then curled over the bar for the visitors with Vickers not unduly worried.

Barnet’s first presentable chance came after 16 minutes. Jamal Campbell-Ryce, back on the right of midfield rather than up front, clipped a perfectly-weighted ball to the back post for Gambin. The Maltese international brought the ball down but saw his low strike saved by Alex Cisak.

Just before the half-hour mark Barnet were forced into a change when former Orient striker Batt was removed with a knock after a bright start to the game.

Weston came on for the forward which meant Campbell-Ryce moving up front alongside John Akinde with Taylor on the right of midfield.

A few minutes later Paul McCallum headed over for Orient from a corner. Vickers then thwarted Jay Simpson after the former Arsenal youngster worked a good shooting opportunity in the penalty area.

Barnet did have the ball in the net six minutes before the break. But Dembele was penalised when, from a corner, he helped the ball home with his hand, earning a booking in the process.

The second half began as slowly as the first with Sam Togwell having the Bees’ best chance after 66 minutes. 

A free-kick was cleared out to the edge where the holding midfielder let fly with a clean strike that Cisak did well to beat away down to his right.

That effort prompted Orient into life and Elliott Johnson did superbly to block Jordan Bowery’s half volley from close range.

It took until a few minutes from time for either side to break the other down. Barnet went closest when Nicholls’ cross picked out Dembele at the back post but he could not beat Cisak in the O’s goal.

A few moments later substitute Akpa Akpro wriggled into some space but could only earn a corner with a low left-footed shot which Cisak helped around the post.

The O’s finally put Barnet under a period of sustained pressure at the death. But Andy Edwards’ side could not find a way through a solid Barnet rearguard and the game ended goalless.

Barnet return to The Hive on Tuesday for the visit of Norwich City in the Checkatrade Trophy. The match is the first in our Four For £40/Four For £4 offer. More information available here.

Barnet: Vickers; Vilhete, Nelson (c), Dembele, Johnson; Campbell-Ryce (Akpa Akpro 71), H. Taylor (Nicholls HT), Togwell, Gambin; Akinde, Batt (Weston 28).

Substitutes: Stephens (GK), N’Gala, Watson, Muggleton.

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Hunt, Erichot, Parkes, Kennedy; Massey, Cornick (Bowery 48), Kelly (c), Semedo (N’Nomo 70); McCallum, Simpson (Palmer 84)

Substitutes: Sargeant (GK), Pollock, Ochieng, Benedicic. 

Referee: Darren Handley.

Attendance: 2,682 (986 Leyton Orient supporters).