Barnet suffered their second home defeat of the season on Saturday to Notts County in a five goal thriller at Underhill.
The Bees named the same starting 11 that drew in midweek with Boston United which again meant that there was no place for the experienced pairing of Andy Hessenthaler and Paul Warhurst in the starting line-up.
It was Barnet who started the game brightly and they had a good chance in the 10th minute when Barry Cogan broke into the box and his low cross found Tresor Kandol but his effort, from six yards, was blocked superbly by Matthew Somner. The ball looped into the air but was claimed comfortably by Notts goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington.
County were continuing to play some nice football and it was not long before they had their first chance on goal when David Pipe saw his 25 yard effort go wide of Lee Harrison's right hand post.
Kandol then shot over the Bees in the 18th minute in a game that was flowing from end-to-end, although efforts on target were at a premium in the opening stages.
The Bees were looking bright though, and a good break forward from Dean Sinclair saw him find Nicky Bailey on the edge of the penalty area. The in-form midifield played the ball first time into the box where Kandol flicked the ball onto Vieira but Pilkington was off of his line quickly to block the strikers effort and the ball went out for a throw.From this, Hendon played the ball to Puncheon who saw his 25 yard effort go over the crossbar.
In the 24th minute the Bees were rewarded for there industrious play when Kandol won his side a penalty kick.He received the ball from a fine pass forward and as he lopped the ball past Pilkington the big goalkeeper brought him down.Up stepped Ian Hendon, who missed a penalty on Tuesday, but this time the Bees skipper made no mistake sending the Notts goalkeeper the wrong way.
Five minutes later and the Bees were to get their second goal of the game when a fine ball into the box by Cogan caused confusion in the County box. Pilkington and Alan White collided in the six yard box leaving Puncheon with the easiest of chances to slot the ball home from the corner of the six yard box.
It took just two minutes though before White redeemed himself when he rose majestically from eight yards out to head home a Andy Parkinson corner.
The goals brought the game to life and it was not long before the Bees had another effort on target when Sinclair saw his left footed effort well held by Pilkington in the 34th minute.
King then shot straight at Pilkington after the ball broke to him following a Bailey free kick but straight down the other end and County were to get the equaliser in the 37th minute when Jason Lee flicked on a Pipe throw before Parkinson was there to drive the ball past Harrison from 12 yards.
Three minutes later and it was disaster for Barnet when they conceded a penalty in an attack then ironically broke from a Barnet corner when Dudfield was upended in the box by Ian Hendon.However, to the Bees rescue was Harrison who guessed the right way to push Dan Matin's low penalty away to safety before rising to his feeting quickly to block the midfielders follow-up effort.
From the resulting corner kick Harrison to tip Pipe's overhead kick away for another corner kick, which the Bees cleared to safety.
The second half began with the same thrust the first period finished and the Bees could have taken the lead just 20 seconds in when Vieira was clean through but sent his effort wide of Pilkington's left hand post.
Two minutes later and the Bees did have the ball in the back of the net when Kandol headed home a Bailey cross but the Assistant Referee ruled the strikers effort out for offside.
Martin then shot wide for the Magpies in the 52nd minute but just three minutes later the away side were to take the lead when Lee broke free of the Bees offside trap before advancing towards goal and sending his low strike past Harrison.
Mendes then had a good chance to score County's fourth but he shot over when well placed at the far post before the Bees had a glorious chance to equalise in the 58th minute but Kandol could only direct his headed, from a sublime Hendon cross, straight at Pilkington from eight yards out.
Vieira then saw his ambitious effort from 30 yards go over the cross on the hour before Mendes saw his fine effort from 20 yards out in the 67th minute tipped over the crossbar by Harrison at the other end.
Mendes then had another chance two minutes later but this time his effort went over the crossbar before Puncheon did similarly for the Bees moments later.
In an end-to-end contest Hendon saw his fierce drive go just wide of Pilkington's right hand post in the 73rd minute before Harrison held onto Mike Edwards volley from close range three minutes later.
Mendes then had another chance to kill the game off eleven minutes from time, but his effort, with only Harrison to beat, went wide of a post.
Ian Ross then shot wide for the Magpies before Kandol shot over for the Bees three minutes from time when well placed on the edge of the box.
A minute later and the Bees could not have come closer to equalising when a fine pass by Puncheon found Grazioli just inside the 18 yard box. The Barnet substitute turned quickly before seeing his fine effort clip the outside of a post before going behind for a goal kick.
That, sadly for the Bees, was the final effort of the game as the Magpies left Underhill victors by three goals to two.
Attendance: 2317
Away: 392
Report By Jonathan Sugar
Photography By Andy Lister
