Injury-hit Barnet came from two down to surely earn the point that will guarantee their League Two survial.

The Bees have now reached 50 points and that should be more than enough to keep them up.

Trailing 2-0, manager Paul Fairclough threw on three substitues, and two of them (Anthony Thomas and Adam Birchall), came up with the goals to break Mansfield hearts.

Until then, the hosts had been cruising and looking odds on to take all three points in their own more pressing battle for survial.

With four defenders out injured, including centre-backs Ismail Yakubu and Sagi Burton, Barnet were forced to start with midfielder Michael Leary in the centre of defence.

Cliff Akurang was the lone striker, with manager Paul Fairclough choosing to play a 4-5-1 formation.

Albert Adomah had the Bees' first chance when he cut inside from the right, but his shot was blocked by a defender. It was a typical run from the on-form winger.

Mansfield's Jefferson Louis should have done better with a cross from the right that flashed across the box, but he did not even get his head to it.

The Stags were ahead on 14 minutes. Michael Boulding played a one-two with Louis and then capitalised on poor Barnet defending. Leary, Jordan Parkes and Lee Harrison just watched him pick up the return, all holding off from making a challenge, and the striker slotted home with ease. It was perhaps a typical mistake from a side playing with a makeshift defence, the lack of communication obvious.

It was almost two midway through the half, John Mullins brilliantly turning his man and firing inches wide. It was a great effort.

The visitors were not surprisingly struggling at the back, Mansfield looking dangerous every time they went forward.

It was again Adomah who created Barnet's second effort, a curling left-foot shot, though it was always going wide.

Even though the Bees had a strong wind behind them in the first half, they generally struggled to make an impact, and at times looked like they were playing with one man less than the hosts.

They did come more into the game as the half wore on, though Matthew Hamshaw almost added a second for the home side one minute before the interval, his 20-yard lob just clearing the bar.

Six minutes into the second half, Harrison dived low to push a Boulding shot wide, while the same Mansfield player then saw another effort deflected behind.

Barnet finally forced keeper Carl Muggleton into a save on 54 minutes, Adomah controlling a long punt forward and volleying towards goal. Unfortunately, Muggleton was right behind it.

And the Stags doubled their advantage a minute later. Hamshaw got behind Nicky Nicolau and cut inside before delicately lobbing Harrison. It was a quality finish.

It should have been three on the hour, but Louis put a diving header wide with the goal at his mercy. It was an incredible miss.

On 65 minutes, Louis had another chance, Harrison this time pushing his close-range header against the post, as Mansfield looked for more goals.

Fairclough made a triple substitution midway through the half in a desperate bid to change the course of the game.

And it was an inspired move, Anthony Thomas firing into the corner from the edge of the box with almost his first touch, as the home defenders backed off.

Suddenly, the Stags started to look nervous as the Bees sought an equaliser.

It came in the 77th minute after sub Jason Puncheon hit a free-kick against the post. Neal Bishop laid the rebound off to sub Adam Birchall, and he turned and fired into the roof of the net from five yards.

Barnet were now doing all the pressing, forcing a number of corners, as the Stags tried to hold on for a point.

But, three minutes from time, Mansfield broke, only to see Simon Brown blaze over the bar from 12 yards, the ball laid invitingly into his path.

BARNET (4-5-1): Harrison; Parkes, Devera, Leary, Nicolau; Adomah, Bishop, Porter, Carew (Thomas 67), St Aimie (Puncheon 67); Akurang (Birchall 67). Subs not used: Beckwith, Tabiri.

Attendance: 2,463.