Knowles' long-range strike looks like it'll be enough until a Barnet substitute turns the ball into his own net five minutes from time
By Our Special Correspondent
For 85 minutes at the Mornflake Stadium, Tom Knowles' strike looked like it would be enough for Barnet. Then Zac Williams, on as a substitute, turned the ball into his own net, and Crewe Alexandra had a 1-1 draw in front of 4,855.
There wasn't much in a tight first half. Danny Collinge headed over for Barnet from a corner early on, and both sides picked up bookings, Reece Hutchinson for Crewe and Nikola Tavares for Barnet.
Knowles finds the top corner
The goal came on 34 minutes. After a set piece, Knowles came infield to pick up the loose ball and lashed it from 20 yards into the top left corner, past the recalled Ian Lawlor. Just before half-time, Nnamdi Ofoborh was booked for diving. Crewe finished the half strongly. Jordan Gibson, Josh March and Joel Tabiner had shots blocked, and Charlie McNeill shot just wide.
Barnet made three changes around the hour, one of them forced by injury, when Williams came on for Romoney Crichlow-Noble. Crewe made three changes of their own at 64 minutes, bringing on Joe White, Adrien Thibaut and Calum Agius, and the game turned.
Pressure, then the equaliser
White tested Matthew Cox from distance on 82 minutes. Three minutes later he swung in a set-piece cross, Luke Offord headed wide, and moments later Williams, against his former club, stretched a leg at the delivery and turned it into the far corner of his own net.
Crewe went looking for a winner. Cox made a good save to keep out March's header from Hutchinson's cross, and Agius headed just over from close range. At the other end Lawlor saved well from Kabongo Tshimanga's shot from a tight angle. Six minutes of stoppage time weren't enough for either side to find another goal.
"The officials should have done better"
Lee Bell had his point and still wasn't happy. He felt Josh March was tripped by Barnet captain Danny Collinge in the box during the second half, and referee Harrison Blair waved it away.
It went our way in the end and the equaliser was just for the players. But it was a bad game of football and the officials should have done better.
Lee Bell, Crewe Alexandra boss (PA)
We wanted a response after the last two games and we got one in the second half. Our focus was better and we wore them down. We hit the bar and we had that stonewall penalty turned down.
Lee Bell
Dean Brennan didn't spare the former Crewe man who had cost Barnet the win.
It's another game we've lost points in the closing stages – we've dropped six from really good positions. Our junior players need to take the responsibility better. Zac was awful for their goal, as an example.
LEAGUE TWO