No icing on cake but a ton of fun for fans

But at least he left Underhill with more than the usual crumbs.

Barnet spoiled the party to mark McCall’s 100th league game as City gaffer. But not the way they usually trash the stereo, scribble on the walls and call the police round.

McCall has still not beaten Barnet in five goes now but a draw after being twice ahead is a marked improvement on a ground that has previously been a personal graveyard.

The potential icing on the cake – in McCall’s words – came two minutes into added time when Scott Neilson fired fiercely at goal.

The script was written for a dramatic third goal but home keeper Jake Cole was equal to it and beat the ball away.

Cole had something to prove by then, given that he had been beaten by his best mate ten minutes earlier.

No doubt the hot topic of conversation on his Saturday night out with Zesh Rehman was how the big defender had opened his City account with a thumping finish.

Rehman became the ninth “new” scorer for the club this season and looked destined to be the match-winner when he then bravely threw his head in the way of Jake Hyde’s goal-bound response to clear off the line.

He deserved better than to fall victim to a second Barnet equaliser with time running out. And so did City.

But beggars can’t be choosers and bearing in mind the horrors of earlier trips – think Albert Adomah last season and Jason Puncheon the one before – this will be seen as a valued point.

McCall brought up his century with a nudged single rather than a one-bounce boundary but, more importantly, the unbeaten run stretched to a sixth game.

The feelgood factor goes on – as witnessed by the enthusiastic reaction from the 454 travelling fans at the final whistle. No boos or grumbles at seeing points slip away but a genuine acknowledgement for the hard work once again on show.

The supporters have suffered there just as much as McCall and his players. Double that amount witnessed one of City’s grimmest afternoons in February.

No doubt, plenty of Saturday’s away crowd would have been at Notts County as well. The improvement in the six weeks since the horror show of the opening day has been huge.

City’s education has been all about the three Es: effort, enthusiasm and endeavour. They were all on display up and down the infamous Barnet slope.

It was not an afternoon for the purist but frankly, who gives a stuff? We all know what’s required to get on at this level and the current City line-up have it in spades.

The big dampener was the final outcome. Against an in-form side that have not lost since the first game, McCall should have been toasting a fourth successive away triumph.

There were plenty of positives again. The back four were excellent; the full backs snuffed out the wide threat while Rehman and Steve Williams mopped up down the middle.

City’s midfield were first to every loose ball and closed down anything that moved; and up front, spearheaded by the magnetic head of James Hanson, they ran Barnet ragged.

The real mystery was how they reached half-time only one goal ahead.

Their 13th-minute breakthrough was a testament to the energy levels. Michael Flynn, who has become such a huge influence on City’s play, barrelled into the box past the hapless Ahmed Deen and crossed low for Hanson to turn home.

And there should have been more.

Ismail Yakubu just did enough to steer Neilson’s sights towards the side-netting; Hanson missed a free header; Flynn’s shot was smothered by the sliding Clovis Kamdjo. Barring one header over from John O’Flynn, it was pretty much one-way traffic.

Barnet were delighted to get off only one adrift. Especially with the ridiculous pitch conditions in their favour for the second half.

Gareth Evans shot wide on the spin before the home side made the advantage count from their first pop on target.

It was a victory for Ian Hendon, the Barnet boss who got McCall’s back up last season with his post-match digs about Rhys Evans.

Hendon replaced the out-of-sorts Deen at left back with Kenny Gillet and the Frenchman had only been on the pitch four minutes when he floated a long cross on to O’Flynn’s head to loop past Simon Eastwood.

The mood changed completely as Barnet finally remembered what they were meant to do with the ball.

Jake Hyde and Yakubu were both inches away from a second goal, while City’s cause was hardly helped by losing the rock-solid Simon Ramsden with a tweaked groin.

But City were still finding joy themselves when they attacked. The corners kept stacking up and the tenth brought its reward as Rehman reacted to Hanson’s flick to lash through the crowded penalty area.

Hendon reacted by reaching for his nuclear weapon – Adomah.

City’s nemesis had not been risked from the start after breaking his nose at Macclesfield last week. And for that the visitors can be thankful.

Hendon let him off the leash for the final 15 minutes and that was more than enough. Adomah had been on for less than a minute when Eastwood failed to deal with his cross. Hyde drilled it back goalwards where Rehman was in the perfect place to head off the line.

But City could have made it safe as Jon Bateson galloped down the right to set up Hanson for a glorious chance – only for the ball to stick under his feet.

Instead, lifted by the chants of “Albert, Albert” from the main stand, Barnet came again and O’Flynn picked out Mark Hughes for the sort of decisive finish that was the trademark of his namesake.

With the game wide open, Hughes should have had a second as Adomah breezed past Luke O’Brien but miscued horribly.

The board showing four added minutes revived horrible flashbacks of Puncheon’s late, late free-kick two years ago. Instead it was Neilson who came the closest to providing the final drama.

No perfect ending to mark McCall’s milestone but more encouraging evidence that City are heading the right way.