A superb first-half Barnet performance was not quite enough to see off the Bantams at Valley Parade this evening.

Adam Birchall hit his second goal in two games, as the visitors took the game to their hosts in front of more than 13,000 fans.

The Bees dominated the opening 45 minutes, playing some excellent attacking football, but the home side recovered sufficiently to secure a point with an equaliser 13 minutes from time.

Barnet made a number of changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Mansfield on Saturday. There were starting places for supersubs Birchall, Anthony Thomas and Jason Puncheon, while Sagi Burton returned to the defence.

It was a quiet start, with neither side making much of an impression in the opening stages.

The first real chance came for the Bees on ten minutes, Thomas connecting to an Albert Adomah cross from the right, though his first-time shot was always rising.

At the other end, Joe Colbeck broke down the right, but his cross went straight to Lee Harrison, much to the frustration of his team-mates.

Puncheon then made room for himself on the edge of the box, turning his marker well, but he sliced his effort wide.

Barnet should have been ahead on 18 minutes. A Neal Bishop ball forward caused confusion and Birchall got in front of the last defender. He only had Scott Loach to beat, but his shot was straight at the advancing keeper.

It was a promising start by the Bees and they got their reward midway through the half. Thomas tried his luck from 25 yards, only to see the ball come back off the bar.

It was a cracking effort and the hosts thought they had got away with it. However, the rebound fell to Birchall, who controlled the ball and struck a low shot into the corner from just inside the box.

Bradford had to wait until the 25th minute for their first real effort, Kyle Nix driving just wide from 20 yards, though Adomah also had a crack at the other end, his effort on this occasion going well over.

The Bees were not giving the Bantams any time to settle, closing them down everytime they had the ball.

The home fans were already showing their frustration, their troops second in most challenges.

Barnet, growing more and more in confidence, should have extended their lead five minutes before the break. A lovely ball from Max Porter put Thomas in the clear, but Loach was out quickly to block his shot.

The Bees did not want the first period to end, having been in total control. In contrast, City could not wait to get to the changing rooms after a woeful display.

Barnet also had the first chance of the second half, Puncheon cutting inside and driving just over.

Bradford's David Wetherall did put the ball in the net on 50 minutes, but the offside flag was already up, Barry Conlon the man penalised.

Eddie Johnson then put a header well wide, as City at last started to show signs of life.

There were calls for a home penalty when Nix fell under the challenge of Michael Leary, but nothing was given.

The offside flag continued to frustrate the Bantams, while the Bees still looked a threat on the break.

With 15 minutes to go, Puncheon broke down the left, but he dragged his shot across the face of the goal.

Within a minute, Bradford sub Luke Medley forced Harrison to push a shot behind.

And the equaliser came from the resulting corner. Colbeck swung the ball over to the near post and Johnson headed home from close in.

It was cruel on Barnet, who had not really been under much pressure up until then.

But now City had their tails up and Ben Strarosta blazed over at the back post after a Conlon ball had set him up. It was an awful miss.

On 86 minutes, Bishop freed Birchall, but he chipped the ball straight into the keeper's arms, while a Conlon header at the other end prompted a routine catch from Harrison.

In stoppage time, Loach blocked an Adomah effort at his near post and that proved to be the final chance.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Devera, Burton, Leary, Nicolau; Adomah, Bishop, Porter, Puncheon; Birchall, Thomas (Akurang 88). Subs not used: Parkes, Tabiri, Carew, Grazioli.

Attendance: 13,072.