Nine man Barnet suffered defeat at Underhill on Saturday against John Coleman's Accrington Stanley.

The Bees made three changes to the starting line-up from the one that drew at Torquay seven days ago with Nicky Bailey and Ian Hendon returning from suspension in place of Stuart Lewis and Joe Devera respectively, whilst Jason Puncheon returned from injury to partner Adam Birchall up front in place of Paul Warhurst, who dropped down to the bench.

Both sides started the game brightly, although both teams were struggling for that killer final pass in a opening to the game that had few goalmouth chances.

Barnet came closest to taking the lead in the 15th minute when a free kick from the right by Puncheon went just the wrong side of a post.

A minute later, and Romauld Boco saw his shot deflect into the hands of Bees keeper Robert Burch, whilst Paul Mullin similarly saw his shot held by Burch three minutes later.

After a spell of good possession, it was Accrington who were to take the lead in the 40th minute courtesy of an Andy Todd penalty kick.

It was Hendon who was to concede the spot kick when he pushed Robbie Williams to the ground at the back post following a deep Alan Rogers cross from the right. Todd made no mistake, sending Burch the wrong way.

Barnet responded well and they were to equalise on the stroke of half time with their best move of the half.

Andy Hessenthaler burst forward before releasing the ball out to the right to Barry Cogan. The Bees right winger cut into the box, and although his first cross was palmed away by Stanley goalkeeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak, Cogan retrieved the ball and his second cross found Birchall at the front post who made no mistake from seven yards.

Barnet began the second half the brighter of the two sides and they were unlucky not to take the lead in the 47th minute when Cogan saw his shot from 15 yards superbly tipped round a post by Kazimierczak.

Birchall was then next to try his luck when he shot just over five minutes later, whilst Kazimierczak did well to hold a Graham drive in the 57th minute after the left winger cut into the penalty area.

Barnet were now on top and seeing more of the ball although a combination of goalkeeper and defence were keeping Stanley in the game.

In a rare attack forward by the away side Adam Gross made a fine challenge in his own area to deny Andrew Proctor after 58 minutes, whilst four minutes later Kazimierczak made his second fine save of the half when he tipped a fierce Birchall drive round his near post.

Two minutes later and Barnet were denied a penalty when referee Whitestone adjudged Cogan was not impeded in the area, the Bees wide man being booked for his protests.

Gross then saw his shot saved before the Bees were to go down to ten men in the 79th minute when substitute Liam Hatch was shown a straight red card after elbowing Mauro Almeida following a late challenge by the Stanley man on the Bees striker.

A minute later Bailey saw his drive tipped over Kazimierczak before Stanley were to go on and get their second goal of the game and seal victory in the 84th minute a cross from by Tony Grant was smashed home at the back post by Proctor to send the travelling fans wild.

Six minutes later and Cogan was to receive his second yellow card after a late challenge on Shauen Whalley to reduce the Bees to nine men in what turned out to be the final action of the game to send the Bees fans home less from happy.

Attendance: 2041
Away: 138

By Jonathan Sugar