Exeter and Barnet played out one of the games of the season with an emphatic 5-3 scoreline that left the Bees just shy of a famous win at League One Exeter.
The first chance of the game fell to the hosts when Ilmari Niskanens teasing cross from the left-hand side looking for Millenic Alli in the box, but Myles Kenlock did brilliantly to defend the ball behind for a corner.
Barnet were putting up a resilient defence in the opening ten minutes when Jack Aitchison went for goal from inside the box, Ade Oluwo put in a strong block to deny the hosts before a Josh Magennis shot was also blocked, this time by Joe Rye.
Third time lucky for City when a ball was fed through to Josh Magennis one-on-one who slotted the ball under Nick Hayes to give the hosts the lead.
Ryan Woods was looking to try his luck from range, but his effort flew way over the bar.
Alli had a great chance to double Exeter’s lead when the ball fell to him from a corner, Nick Hayes put in a great stop to deny him.
Despite the Exeter chances the Bees possession was mounting. Ryan Glover received the ball down the left-hand side before bending a fantastic shot into the bottom right-hand corner to bring the Bees level.
Half Time 1-1
The Bees started the second half glaring down on League One Exeter and took the lead when Zak Brunt received the ball inside the box before placing a low shot across the goal and into the bottom right-hand corner.
A cross was floated into the path of Magennis who had a leaning header but his effort went wide of Hayes’ goal.
With the home side pushing for the equaliser, they were handed a golden chance when Danny Collinge was deemed to have committed a foul inside the box. Josh Magennis stepped up to get his second of the afternoon.
With eleven minutes to go Barnet had the lead for the second time. A ball was slipped through to Kabamba who raced through on goal to slot the ball into the back of the net from inside the box.
Just four minutes later and Exeter had another penalty when Ben Coker fouled his man in the box. Magennis stepped up again to grab his hat-trick to once again bring the scores level.
Both Barnet and Exeter were fighting for the winner, it came but for the hosts in the 96th minute when a cross was flashed across the face of goal and there was Jay Bird to send the home fans into ecstasy.
The Bees were throwing everything at their opponents but were unfortunately caught on the break in the 100th minute before Kamari Doyle shot the ball into an empty net from distance.
And so ended a remarkable cup tie that left the Bees just short of a famous cup win.
Full Time 5-3
Lineups- Hayes, Coker (Grimwood 102’), Rye (Collinge 45’), Kabamba, Kanu, Glover (Okimo 92’), Brunt (Cropper 86’), Hartigan, Oluwo, Kenlock, Hobson.
Goals- Glover (39’), Brunt (59’), Kabamba (79’)
