Rochdale 1 Barnet 1

Nationwide League Division Three

Ben Strevens, Barnet's 19-year-old striker, provided confirmation, if any was needed, of what an exciting prospect he is at Spotland on Saturday.

Since he joined from Ryman League Wingate and Finchley, Strevens' nurture towards league soccer has been well-timed.

He's been making regular appearances as a late substitute recently, and provided a fine example of his firing power when forcing a magnificent save from Shrewsbury keeper Paul Edwards in the 1-1 home draw last month.

At Rochdale, with Barnet assured of a place in the play-offs, manager John Still sent on substitutes Strevens and Danny Brown to replace Ken Charlery and Darren Currie early in the second half.

Strevens impressed with a good first touch, pace and ability to turn defenders, qualities that led to Barnet's opening goal after 66 minutes. Strevens was tripped by an opponent he had wrong-footed, and, from Paul Wilson's free kick, Mark Arber scored with a powerful volley from close range.

With seven minutes left, Rochdale equalised when Tony Ellis soared at the far post to nod in a cross from the left by substitute Michael Holt.

Ellis threatened to score again two minutes later, but Rob Sawyers blocked his effort

Mathematically, Rochdale had a remote chance of a play-off place, and looked dangerous when they broke in the first half.

Barnet should have felt at home on the Spotland slope, but hit too many long balls. A notable exception came with a slick exchange between between Currie and McGleish, who powered a header goalwards from Currie's cross, only for keeper Neil Edwards to make a flying save.

That was matched by Bees' keeper Lee Harrison, who dived to tip a forceful header from Clive Platt around the post.

At the final whistle, Barnet's fans mobbed their heroes, who had done well to recover from a dismal spell of seven games without a win with a seven-match unbeaten run as they clinched their play-off place.

BARNET: Harrison; Stockley, Heald, Arber, Sawyers; Doolan, Wilson (Bell, 87), Toms, Currie (Brown, 47); Charlery (Strevens, 47), McGleish. Subs not used: King, Bossu.