This defeat at the hands of Chester City was as comprehensive as the 5-1 scoreline suggests. Once Barnet went behind just after the half hour mark it became increasingly difficult to see how the Bees could get back into the game as Chester grew in confidence and assumed control.

Barnet had made four changes from the line up that started against Brentford last week. In came central defender Jeremy De Magalhaes, winger Danny Hart, midfielder Paul Mitchell and forward Luke Medley, replacing Ismail Yakubu (injured), Ashley Carew (injured), Max Porter and Cliff Akurang respectively.

The impressive Kevin Ellison gave the home side the lead on 32 minutes when his shot from the edge of the box found the corner of the net. Ellison, a thorn in the side of Barnet in last season's encounter at the Deva, was central to Chester's performance. He had licence to roam upfront and wherever he appeared and got on the ball he created danger.

Albert Adomah had a good run down the left that could have resulted in something and de Magalhaes hit a well struck free kick were rare examples of the Bees taking the game to Chester in the first half, yet being only a goal down and with a half time re-appraisal to follow, all was not lost at this stage.

But twelve minutes into the second period Ellison dispossessed Michael Leary, advanced forward, looked up and found Ryan Lowe in the penalty area and the ex-Crewe striker finished calmly to put Chester two up.

Five minutes later the Chester captain Paul Linwood headed home a free kick from close range and only three minutes later Kevin Roberts took full advantage from a Chester corner to further extend the home side's lead with his team's fourth goal of the afternoon.

With just over ten minutes to go Lowe was again on hand to apply a cool finish to an opportunity to put Chester five goals to the good. The home and away fans were now both in states of disbelief, but for dramatically different reasons.

Cliff Akurang, on as a substitute for Medley, managed to turn the ball into the net in time added on. Rarely has a goal been so mildly celebrated, sadly it could offer no way back into the game, it was the stereotypical consolation goal.

Mitchell, on his debut on loan from MK Dons, showed some neat touches and a keen desire to get his tackles in, but as the game progressed his lack of matches under his belt began to tell. He could well prove to be an asset.

De Magalhaes in central defence offered balance to the back four in that he naturally plays as a left sided central defender and he certainly won his fair share of duels in the air.

Post match the Bees manager Paul Fairclough said that the application of his players was clearly unacceptable, and there would be few, if any, dissenters from that view.

Barnet face the Daggers in the JPT on Tuesday night and then another away trip to Lincoln City in League 2 next Saturday.

David Bloomfield.