Barnet suffered yet more away day woes after they were beaten 2-0 by Chester City at the Saunders Honda Stadium on Saturday.

Manager Paul Fairclough made four changes to the starting line-up from the one that drew with Shrewsbury Town at Underhill on Tuesday with Ian Hendon returning to the side as captain, whilst there were also recalls for Richard Graham, Barry Cogan and Oliver Allen in place of the injured Andy Hessenthaler and Jason Puncheon, and Liam Hatch, who dropped down to the substitutes bench.

Barnet started the game brightly and were nearly ahead in the opening minute of the contest when Ismail Yakubu saw his glancing header, from a Nicky Bailey free kick, gathered in the air by Chester goalkeeper John Danby.

Two minutes later and David Artell made a hash of his clearance, after initially blocking an Allen free kick, when he sliced the ball back towards his own goal, but Danby was there to palm the ball away to safety.

Paul Linwood then headed a Sean Hessey free kick over the bar for the home side in their first attack of the game in the 21st minute.

This chance appeared to spring Mark Wright's side into life and just three minutes later Ross Flitney was required to pull off a fine save with his legs after Paul Rutherford's clever run and shot took him clear of a static Barnet defence.

The Bees continued to dominate in an encouraging first period for Fairclough's side, though, and they came close to taking the lead a minute before half time when a long ball forward found Allen on the left channel. The Bees striker cut into the box before seeing his strike from the left of the penalty area from 18 yards hit the outside of a post and go behind for a goal kick.

With barely seconds remaining before the interval, though, Chester were to take the lead when Barnet failed to deal with a Hessey corner kick allowing Linwood to head back across goal for defensive partner and captain Phil Bolland to head home from six yards.

The second half was one to forget for the Bees, who failed to match the  fluency and efficiency of their game in the opening 45 minutes.

In a half of rare attacking play, it was Chester who were to extend their lead in the 57th minute with the first shot on goal in the second period.

A poor clearance by Yakubu fell straight to the feet of Chris Holdroyd, who pulled the ball back to the edge of the penalty area where former Watford man Jamie Hand drove home low into Flitney's bottom left hand corner from 20 yards.

Barnet suffered a further blow in the 63rd minute when Simon King was forced off with a hamstring strain - Joe Devera taking King's place at the heart of the Bees defence.

Three minutes later, and with Barnet still to have a strike on goal in the second half, Cogan was replaced by Hatch as the Bees reverted to a three man attack.

The change, though, only seemed to inspire the home side who saw Hussey shoot just over in the 70th minute, whilst a minute later the same man was again involved this time seeing his free kick headed over by Linwood, who arguably should have done better when well placed.

Giuliano Grazioli was then introduced for the Bees in place of Allen nine minutes from time and it was the Italian marksman who was involved in Barnet's only shot in the second half in the 86th minute when he laid the ball off to Graham who struck over from 15 yards.

With two minutes remaining Chester substitute Brad Maylett shot over before referee Penn signalled an end to the game leaving 143 travelling Bees fans heading home feeling rather disappointed.

Attendance: 1591
Away: 143

By Jonathan Sugar