Barnet 3-3 Kidderminster Harriers

Martin Allen admitted he was to blame for Barnet’s second-half collapse against Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday.

The Bees were 3-0 up and cruising at half time through Luisma Villa, Lee Cook and John Akinde at the Hive.

Akinde was withdrawn by boss Allen at the interval while Harriers made a double substituion of their own which sparked a three-goal comeback.

Allen said: “They made a couple of substitutions at half-time and went a bit more direct and we never dealt with it, which is not like our players. They have been on it from day one but the second half we just weren’t quite there for some reason.

“I was wrong. I got it wrong – there is no doubt about that – and with hindsight, which is a wonderful thing, perhaps I should have done things differently.

“I took John Akinde off because he has had a tight hamstring before the game and I thought at 3-0 we would be able to get through to the end. He has got three yellow cards and he has had a tight hamstring before the match in the pre-match warm-up and I thought we would be able to get through to the end.

“Obviously I have got my eyes on the future – I do not want to lose him with a hamstring strain, but perhaps in hindsight, perhaps I should have left him on and gone through to the end with him."

Michael Gash, one of Kidderminster’s half-time changes grabbed his team the lifeline they sorely needed before two Nathan Blissett headers in a minute saw Barnet pegged back after what had been an excellent first period.

Allen added: “It was a difficult ending to what was a superb first half performance. We’ve had a few of these games now where we have got ahead and we’ve looked comfortable. It is very disappointing for the supporters and for the players, just all round really – very disappointing.

“We played very well first half and there were a couple of little patches in the second half where I thought we did OK.

“We played some really good football in the first half and every team that comes here is going to find it difficult to beat. We tried to get the football down and play and pass it through and get our full-backs forward – which I thought looked really good today.”

Barnet remain top of the Conference Premier but are now just three points ahead of Woking, who have a game in hand but an inferior goal difference.