REPORT | Barnet 0-0 Wrexham AFC

Ten-man Wrexham stood firm to record a point on the road against promotion-chasing Barnet despite Callum McFadzean’s red card.

After a first-half with little to note, McFadzean – starting in place of the injured Jacob Mendy – was sent off six minutes after the restart.

Manager Phil Parkinson was then sent off after the final whistle, after clashing with Barnet goalkeeper Laurie Walker – who had been goading the Wrexham fans on full-time.

Wrexham were forced into one change from the win against Notts County, with goalscorer Jacob Mendy ruled out with a thigh injury and replaced by McFadzean.

Monday’s other two goalscorers forged the first opening for Wrexham on nine minutes, with Elliot Lee playing a one-two with Paul Mullin and curling a low right-footed effort which Laurie Walker parried clear.

There was a sense of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’, however, with little other action of note in the first half-hour – the game lacking rhythm with defences on top.

Ryan de Havilland was proving to be Barnet’s biggest threat when he found space, and Ben Tozer made a key interception at the near post to stop his low, right-wing cross on 41 minutes. From the resultant corner, Ollie Palmer then deflected Emmanuel Fernandez’s header wide.

Neither side could find a breakthrough before half-time, however, with the game failing to ignite in the first-half.

Six minutes into the second-half came the first big flashpoint, however, as McFadzean was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Walker.

Mullin attempted an overhead kick after Palmer’s header inside, and Walker dived on the loose ball – with McFadzean sent off for following in on the Bees’ keeper.

The decision incensed the Wrexham fans behind the goal, who ramped up the volume, and the players responded.

Ryan Barnett raced down the right-wing on 59 minutes and skipped inside, before the ball ran loose for Palmer to shoot – Walker parrying well.

Barnet’s reply was to send Nicke Kabamba on for Emmanuel Fernandez, and the striker cut inside onto his right foot and forced a fine low save from Ben Foster on 61 minutes.

The Bees’ next change was to introduce former Wrexham triallist Courtney Senior, and Eoghan O’Connell made an important block to stop the winger’s low shot on 72 minutes after Ben Foster’s key punch clear.

O’Connell then went close at the other end, when Ben Tozer’s long throw bounced straight through to him at the back post in the 75th minute, but Walker saved well on his line.

Harry Smith should have put Barnet in front on 80 minutes, however, from De Havilland’s hanging cross, but he somehow headed wide at the back post.

Having already brought on Luke Young for Andy Cannon, Phil Parkinson then turned to Sam Dalby for Wrexham, replacing Palmer for the final ten minutes.

Anthony Forde then made his return to first-team action on 86 minutes, replacing Barnett on the right.

Barnet’s final substitute David Moyo was the man who nearly broke the deadlock late on, however – failing to get what would have been a goalscoring touch to a low cross in the 90th minute.

Moyo went close again in the second of five added minutes, sending a looping header goalwards from De Havilland’s corner, but Ben Foster turned it wide at the back post.

Barnet could not find a winning goal, however, with Wrexham ensuring they moved a point closer to promotion from the National League.

At the full-time whistle, Walker turned to the away fans and blew kisses from his goal, in response at their unhappiness to his reaction after McFadzean's foul, prompting an angry reaction from the Wrexham manager.

Referee Ed Duckworth showed the manager a red card, but the visiting fans still cheered their players off after a battling point on the road.

Barnet: Walker, Collinge,  Okimo, Potter, Fernandez (Kabamba 59), Beard (Senior 70), De Havilland, Pritchard, Kanu, Cropper, Smith (Moyo 81)

Subs: Powell, Revan

Wrexham: Foster, O’Connell, Tozer, O’Connor, Barnett (Forde 86), J.Jones, Cannon (Young 71), McFadzean, Lee, Mullin, Palmer (Dalby 81)

Subs: Howard, Cleworth

Referee: Ed Duckworth

Attendance: 5,265 (1,831 away)

Bookings:

Barnet: Beard (65, foul)

Wrexham:  Young (90+5, foul)

Red Cards:

Barnet:

Wrexham: McFadzean (51, dangerous foul play)