A set piece strike from Mauro Vilhete earned Barnet a point against high-flying Portsmouth, but it could so nearly have been all three for the Bees.  

The winger’s perfectly struck shot from just outside the area put Kevin Nugent’s side ahead with nine minutes left to play, but a late wonder strike from Pompey substitute Conor Chaplin saw the points shared at full time. 

The opening 20 minutes of the match was a cagy affair, before both teams had a chance apiece to take the lead. 

First Eoin Doyle glanced a 23rd minute Gary Roberts cross wide of the left post for the visitors.

Barnet responded through Curtis Weston – his powerful shot forced David Forde to parry the ball behind for a corner two minutes later.

The Bees had the better of a first half short on clear-cut opportunities. 

John Akinde’s looping shot from the edge of the box dipped over the bar with 37 minutes on the clock, before Charlie Clough’s header from a Ruben Bover corner was deflected behind by the Pompey defence.

The second period started in much the same vein, but the Bees almost went ahead when Bover’s free kick flew just high and wide of the left post on 65 minutes. 

Portsmouth began to take control of possession mid-way through the half though, and Barnet were forced to scramble away a series of dangerous crosses into the box.

But it was the home side who eventually took the lead following a foul on Justin Amaluzor on the edge of the box. 

Vilhete stepped up to curl the free kick into the top left corner, giving the Bees an 81st minute lead. 

They couldn’t hold on however, as Chaplin’s 25-yard screamer beat Josh Vickers and nestled in the top right corner of the net with just a minute left to play. 

Amaluzor fired over from a narrow angle in injury time, but in the end the Bees had to settle for a valuable point against one of the division’s stronger sides. 

Barnet take on Cambridge United next Saturday at The Hive.