Two first half goals did for Barnet in the last game of the season and the sending off of Abu Ogogo on the stroke of half-time meant that the Bees would have a mountain to climb in the second half, and so it proved.

Danny Hart scored his first goal for the Bees almost on the final whistle, a cracker from the edge of the box after keeper Ran Kadoch had caused confusion in the opponent's penalty box from a corner.

The hard work put in and the results achieved since the turn of the year meant that being on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline in the last match of the season did not have any adverse consequences; Ian Hendon's Barnet had earned that luxury.

Barnet were unable to field anything like the team that had pulled the Bees clear of any threat of relegation. The loan stars, Jake Cole, Matt Lockwood and Yannick Bolasie had returned to their parent clubs, injury further denying Barnet of the services of Gary Breen, Ismail Yakubu and John O'Flynn; and then on the morning of the match Paul Furlong (hamstring) and Albert Adomah (ankle) were ruled out, depleting Barnet' reserves even further.

In the opening flurry Louis Dodds gave an indication of his abilities and intentions when he careered his way through the Barnet defence in the inside left channel, but his effort found only the side netting.

Dodds went one better in the 11th minute when he again advanced towards the Barnet goal, Bees defenders backed off, and this time his low shot found the corner of the net to put Vale one up.

Hart out on the right wing all afternoon delivered a steady stream of inviting crosses into dangerous areas but the Bees efforts on goal often lacked power or direction and sometimes both.

The Vale skipper, the veteran Dave Brammer, was keeping the game flowing for the visitors as his neat, short and intricate passing in midfield linked the elements of his team together, although his influence did fade as the second half progressed.

With time being added on in the first half, a melee in the Barnet six yard box led to Ogogo handling the ball on the goal line, referee Mr East awarding a penalty and showing the Barnet defender a red card.

Danny Glover's effort was well saved initially by Kadoch, but unfortunately the ball then fell at the striker's feet, and he reacted first to tuck away the rebound.

Ten-man Barnet adopted a 3-4-2 formation in the second half in an attempt to get something out of the game, with substitutes Adam Birchall with a flicked header and Max Porter with a pile driving shot all going close to reducing the deficit.

Although Hart's late effort did not affect the outcome of the match it was a good way to end the season and the final whistle blew moments later.

Barnet were not able to meet the target of 50 points they had set for themselves, but the incalculably more important objective of staving off a return to Conference level football had comfortably been achieved.

As is the custom at the end of the season both the supporters and players acknowledged the efforts of the other to ensure that Barnet are a Football League outfit on the pitch next season.

Barnet's next Underhill fixture is against Arsenal on Saturday 18 July.

David Bloomfield.