BARNET captain Harry Pritchard has been compared to Diego Maradona after punching in a goal in this week’s FA Cup second-round replay against Newport County AFC.

Pritchard netted in the Bees’ 4-1 defeat to County in bizarre circumstances.

The midfielder looked to have headed in from close range eight minutes before the half-time interval to give his side some hope of a comeback from 3-0 down.

The goal was given despite replay footage on the live ITV 4 broadcast revealing that the 31-year-old midfielder had used his hand to guide the ball past Nick Townsend.

There were no protests from the Exiles, and officials were clearly fooled.

In fact, the intervention from the former Blackpool and Bradford City man was so sneakily done that even commentator Adam Virgo was duped initially.

“Brilliant flick on, it's a brave header as well from Harry Pritchard,” said the former Brighton & Hove Albion and Celtic player-turned-commentator before realising his mistake. “Does he get his head on the ball, or is it his hand?”

Fans spotted the handball and flocked to social media to comment.

One fan posted: “Best ‘committed header’ I’ve ever seen.”

A second commented: “Diego [Maradona] would have been proud.”

Another quipped: “Maradona alive and well and living in Barnet.”

A fourth said: "Hand of Harry."

Barnet boss Dean Brennan admitted that the goal should not have counted after the game.

He told club media: “We were a bit lucky. I was told it was a handball.

“I have seen it back and it is a clear handball from Pritch.”

County will now host Barnet’s National League rivals Eastleigh in the third round of the FA Cup on January 6.