A well-organised Chester City side inflicted defeat on Barnet for the first time in four games.
In a hard fought contest, in which both sides were reduced to 10 men, Keith Curle's inform City side defeated the Bees by three goals to one.
However, despite the scoreline the Bees dominated long periods of the game and may consider themselves unlucky to lose the contest.
Paul Fairclough decided to rest Dwane Lee, with Giuliano Grazioli returning to the side having missed the previous game away to Torquay. Simon King returned to the bench following his hamstring injury.
Barnet started the game brightly and could have taken the lead in the 6th minute. Damian Batt's long ball found Grazioli but instead of shooting, he unselfishly looked for his striker partner Liam Hatch but the ball was cleared by Luke Dimech.
The Bees continued to press with Chester looking uneasy at the back in the opening stages and a trademark Ian Hendon long ball nearly caught the away side out.The captain found Dean Sinclair bursting into the City box but his left footed effort was well saved by Chris Mackenzie.
The Bees were made to pay for missing their early chances, as it was the visitors who were to get the opening goal of the game.Barnet failed to clear a Ben Davies corner and Michael Branch (13) stabbed the ball home after Scott McNiven's header was cleared off the line.
The Bees could consider themselves unlucky to be losing, although they will not be happy at their defending from the corner.
Chester continued to press from the restart and a sweeping move involving Ryan Lowe and Thomas Curtis saw the ball fall to Ben Davies but his effort sailed well wide of Ross Flitney's goal.
However, straight down the other end and Barnet had strong claims for a penalty turned down.A free kick inside his own half by Hendon saw Hatch flick the ball on to Grazioli. His powerful effort appeared to strike an arm, although referee Andy D'Urso waved away the claims for a spot kick.
Damian Batt then saw his powerful drive go inches wide, whilst a Hatch header went just wide of Mackenzie's right hand post as Fairclough's side continued to dominate much of the play.
Controversy then struck as Mackenzie was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the box. D'Urso decided to show the City keeper a yellow card, whilst the resulting free kick from Sinclair hit the Chester wall.
Ten minutes before half time and Chester were reduced to ten men as the game suddenly sprang into life. A 21 man brawl ensued after an off the ball incident involving Bailey and Stuart Drummond and the City player was giving his marching orders as he appeared to strike the Barnet midfielder.
Drummond's dismissal inspired Barnet to push further forward and a clever Graham cross saw Grazioli step over the ball for Ben Strevens to drive narrowly wide.
Seconds later and Barnet were again unlucky not to equalise. A superb cross from Batt was headed across goal by Hatch. Grazioli sprung off the ground but his well struck scissor kick hit the crossbar.
Just as the Bees were left admiring Grazioli's fine effort, Chester went straight up the other end to get their second goal of the game.
The Barnet defence failed to deal with Mackenzie long goal kick and the ball broke to Lowe who shot powerfully past Flitney in the Bees goal.
Following the half time interval, it was Barnet who continued to have a majority of the possession as Chester looked to get nine men behind the ball.
A Hendon effort went just over the bar, whilst Mackenzie tipped a superb Adam Gross header over the bar.
However, despite seeing much of the ball, Chester were defending well and offering the Bees very little in front of goal as Fairclough's side began to get frustrated.
That frustration boiled over as the Bees were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute. Anthony Charles slid in late on Thomas Curtis and the Barnet centre back was to receive his second yellow card of the game.
To make matters worse for the Bees, just a minute later and Chester were to get their third goal of the game..
A clever threw ball by Ryan Lowe split the Bees backline and the ball fell to Curtis who finished coolly past Flitney.
Barnet continued to press and never let their heads drop and were rewarded with a consolation goal in the 77th minute when Substitute Simon King headed the ball across goal from a Batt cross, and Grazioli tapped home at the back post for his sixth goal of the season.
Further efforts from Grazioli and Bailey went wide for the Bees, whilst D'Urso again denied the Bees a penalty when Jason Norville appeared to be pulled down in the final minutes.
However, it was not Barnet's day and they suffered their first defeat in four game. They return to Cup Competition this Tuesday against Bristol City in the LDV Vans Trophy and they will be looking to bounce back with a win.
Jonathan Sugar
