​Barnet 1 Cheltenham Town 1

Cheltenham Town extended their unbeaten away run under Mark Yates to five matches with a hard-fought point at Underhill.

The Robins have lost their last three home games, but they are far more resolute on the road and they maintained their six point advantage over 23rd place Grimsby Town with their fourth straight away draw.

Cheltenham approached the match with only one fit centre-back as Michael Townsend picked up a groin injury in training and was a major doubt before kick-off.

But the former Barnet loan man played through the pain barrier to help his side earn another valuable point against the drop.

Yates' men led in the 20th minute through Matt Thornhill's first goal for the club, but Barnet levelled nine minutes before the break as Albert Adomah crashed in a 20-yard drive via the right post.

SECOND HALF SUMMARY: Both sides had goals disallowed early on in the second half and the closest either side came to winning the match came in the 78th minute when Adomah's volley at the near post cannoned down off the bar onto the goalline before it was hacked to safety.

Barry Hayles showed some flashes of magic, directing an acrobatic scissors kick wide and bamboozling the home defence with one run which ended with him being tripped on the edge of the box. Bird's free-kick was deflected wide off a defender.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY: Cheltenham took the lead after 20 minutes when a ball forward aimed towards Julian Alsop was cleared as far as Michael Pook, who lofted a clever ball back over the defence to Josh Low on the left. Low had enough time and space to compose himself before sending over a low cross which was tapped in by Matt Thornhill, who scored his first Robins goal on his second appearance for the club on loan from Nottingham Forest.

The opening strike came against the run of play as the home side did most of the pressing early on and only a fine save from Scott Brown denied Barnet in the 16th minute.

Albert Jarrett's cross to the far post reached John O'Flynn unmarked and he seemed certain to score, but Brown spread himself well to keep it out.

Brown had earlier saved from Jake Hyde at the near post after Matt Lockwood's superb pass turned defence into attack for Barnet, who were playing fown the slope in the opening period.

Both of Barnet's wingers, Jarrett and Albert Adomah, were causing Cheltenham major problems with their pace and trickery.

Left winger Jarrett teased David Bird in the 35th minute before delivering a cross than was cleared by Lee Ridley as far as Adomah and he crashed a shot past Brown from 20 yards via the right post to make it 1-1.

Cheltenham almost snatched the lead in the third minute of stoppage time when Thornhill prodded an effort inches wide, but Barnet looked far more threatening going forward.

TEAM NEWS: Veteran strike pair Barry Hayles and Julian Alsop are recalled to Cheltenham Town's starting line-up at Barnet this afternoon, with leading scorer Justin Richards and Elvis Hammond dropped to the bench.

Theo Lewis and Matt Thornhill come in for Joss Labadie, who has returned to West Brom, and Marley Watkins in midfield, while Lee Ridley replaces the suspended Danny Andrew at left-back as boss Mark Yates makes five changes to the side beaten 1-0 by Burton Albion at home last Tuesday.

Much to Yates' relief, skipper Michael Townsend has shaken off a minor groin injury to keep his place in the back four. Ashley Eastham is still absent due to a family bereavement.

Cheltenham have not won at Barnet since their non-League days.

Barnet: J Cole, J Devera, G Breen, A Adomah, J O'Flynn, M Hyde (L Sawyer 77), R O'Neill, A Jarrett, J Hyde, M Lockwood, D Livermore. Subs: K Gillet, N Deverdics, C Kamdjo, A Deen, P Carpenter, P Furlong.

Cheltenham Town: S Brown; D Bird, M Townsend, A Gallinagh, L Ridley; J Low, M Pook, T Lewis (E Hammond 74), M Thornhill (K Haynes 85; B Hayles (J Richards 85), J Alsop. Subs: W Puddy, J Quaynor, M Watkins, D Hutton.

Referee: F Graham.

Attendance: 1,667.