It all turns out okay in the end for ambitious Barnet as they hit back to overcome 10-man York City
League Two
Barnet (1) 3 Tshimanga 39, Reeves 80, McNally og 87
York City (1) 1 Read 37 Boeteng s/o 52
Barnet fought back from a goal down to beat fellow high-flyers York City in a feisty affair at the Hive - the effective winning moment a superb strike from outside the box by sub Jake Reeves
The Bees had nearly all of the second half to find a winner but their increasing dominance was failing to end in clear chances until the moment of magic from Reeves.
He rippled a low shot into the bottom corner to break the visitors' resistance with just 10 minutes to go before another sub, Damola Ajayi, forced an own goal from keeper Alfie McNally to made it 3-1 to seal the deal.
It keeps the Bees handily placed in second, just behind Salford City in the table and ensures a week of three home games in a row ends on the right note following a defeat to Swindon and a draw with Oldham at the weekend.
"Bees going up, ole, ole" sang their happy fans. Maybe it's a bit too early to think in those terms but the ambition is certainly there to try and emulate Bromley's success of last season.
The victory was perhaps tough on York, who played ferociously from the off and, backed by a very healthy two-thirds full away end, caused many early problems.
They may only just have recovered their league status but they are relishing their return and are tucked in the play-off positions just behind the Bees after going five without defeat before this re-arranged fixture.
They looked in the mood. Joe Grey was not far off after cutting in from the right and clipping in a low shot that was touched wide. A clinical far post volley from their left back Mark Kitching beat Matthew Cox but an offside flag was raised.
Barnet's keeper had to be brilliant to keep out another one from close range - Ollie Pearce connecting perfectly with a cross from the right by Joe Felix that left the striker perplexed and not seeing it nestle in the far corner of the net.
In a fractious, stop-start overture, the Bees had trouble to get going - a couple of Adam Senior long throw launches their best bet for causing issues in the Minstermen's rearguard.
Dean Brennan got himself booked by ref Ben Toner after the official halted play just as a promising home attack was building. It summed up a very bitty opening half with a lot of bad temper on show.
An injury to York's Ollie Banks forced the visitors into a change but it worked out well for them as the man taking his place, Arthur Stead, fired his team ahead after racing the down the right channel before getting the ball back from Felix and curling a fine left-foot shot across Cox and into the net.
But the Bees responded immediately, with the prolific Kabongo Tshimanga grabbing his 10th league goal of the season, prodding home after a flick-on following another of those Senior throw-ins.
Hopes of turning the game around completely were given a boost seven minutes into the second half when York defender Hiram Boeteng collected a second yellow card for slamming the ball into an opponent after play had stopped - having collected a card just before the break for a crude scything down of Idris Kanu.
Sub Tom Knowles almost got the Bees in front after a lovely cushioned chest pass from Oisin Gallagher, but McNally threw up his hands to make a fine reflex stop. However, the Bees made sure their numerical advantage would eventually count.
Next up for them is Crewe away.
Bees: (4-4-2) Cox - Senior (Smith 64), Collinge, Tavares, Critchlow - Kanu (Ofoborh 56), Gallagher, Comley (Reeves 63), Lakin - Maskell (Knowles 56), Tshimanga (Ajayi 83)
Minstermen: (3-4-2-1) McNally - Fallowfield (Williams 57), Johnson, Kitching - Felix (King 71), Boateng, Hunt, Boyes - Banks (Read 14), Grey (Stones 56) - Pearce (Maguire 71)
Attendance: 3,198
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