BARNET substitute Adam Birchall scored a late wonder goal to leave Town facing an FA Cup replay at League Two Barnet.

Blair Sturrock's second half header looked as though it had put Town's name into the hat for the FA Cup fourth round draw until Birchall's 20-yard screamer.

There was little to shout about at the County Ground before the break as Town struggled to break down their League Two rivals.

With Barnet travelling to the FA Cup third round tie playing 4-5-1, patience was always going to be the key with chances few and far between.

Blair Sturrock was handed a rare start this afternoon as Town look to progress past Barnet and into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Sturrock partners Billy Paynter in attack with Simon Cox back at Reading and Barry Corr serving a three-match ban.

Apart from that Town named an unchanged side from the team that grabbed a thrilling 1-1 draw with Swansea on New Years Day.</ Miguel Comminges' long throw was causing problems for the League Two visitors with Paynter heading one straight at goalkeeper Rob Beckwith early on.

Former Town midfielder Nicky Nicolau then saw a 20-yard strike tipped wide by Brezovan for the visitors on 14 minutes before Sturrock volleyed Sofi Zaaboub's cross just wide.

In a subdued atmosphere though, Barnet were giving as good as they got with the highly-rated Jason Puncheon going close with a fierce 30-yard strike that fizzed wide of goal.

On 27 minutes Jon-Paul McGovern should have done better when Paynter's cross landed at his feet just yards out. But the midfielder hesitated and Barnet were able to scramble the ball wide of goal.

Four minutes later Craig Easton's header was cleared off the line by Ismail Yakubu and, when the loose ball fell to Zaaboub, the Frenchman saw a close range shot blocked by Beckwith.

Aljofree should have handed the hosts an injury time lead but he headed Zaaboub's free kick from the right wide.

Town should have taken the lead straight away after the break when Zaaboub's outswinging left wing corner caused chaos in Barnet's defence.

Sturrock's initial goal-bound volley was blocked on the line by Nicolau and when the rebound fell straight back to him, with the goal gaping, his shot was again hacked off the line by the covering Nicolau.

Barnet refused to be shaken though and the dangerous Puncheon almost stunned the hosts when he beat Vincent on the right before seeing his shot from an angle parried away by Brezovan.

The visitors should have taken a shock lead on 58 minutes when Puncheon's quick feet saw him waltz past three Town defenders but, with just Brezovan to beat, he chipped the ball wide.

Town made the most of their let off two minutes later, with Sturrock heading home from close range.

Comminges' low cross from the right slipped under Beckwith's body, was cleared off the line and up into the air by Yakubu, but Sturrock was on hand to bundle the ball home.

Barnet substitute Adam Birchall had two efforts ruled out for offside, although the flag had been raised a long time before he had put either shot into the net.

On 85 minutes Birchall plucked Beckwith's punt out of the air and rifled the ball into the top corner for the equaliser.

TOWN: Peter Brezovan, Jamie Vincent, Jerel Ifil, Hasney Aljofree, Miguel Comminges, Sofi Zaaboub, Craig Easton, Lee Peacock, Jon-Paul McGovern, Blair Sturrock, Billy Paynter.

SUBS: Christian Roberts, Michael Pook, Andy Nicholas, Kaid Mohamed, Chris Allen