Barnet suffered their first home defeat of the year at the hands of Darlington in a match where the Bees hit the woodwork twice, but came up a fraction short of the level of performances that has seen four consecutive home victories.

Ian Hendon made just one change to his starting line-up, with Joe Devera replacing the injured Mark Hughes at right-back.

Ex-Bee Liam Hatch returned to Underhill to lead the Quaker's attack and he was soon into the action with his effort on goal troubling the spectators in the South Family Stand.

Yannick Bolasie was delivering a series of excellent crosses into the penalty area from his station out on the left flank but the Darlington defence in which centre back Ian Miller was in commanding form were in no mood to concede cheap goals.

Just before the interval a Nicky Deverdics corner was headed against the bar by Paul Furlong and this effort was the closest the Bees came to taking the lead in the first half.

Early In the second half Paul Furlong latched onto a through ball on the edge of the penalty area, composed himself a let fly a goalbound effort that the Darlo keeper Andy Oakes did well to push wide for a corner.

In the 66th minute Danny Carlton was allowed too much time to weave his way into a good position down the Darlo left flank and his cross was turned in by Pawel Abbott to give the visitors the lead.

Moments later Oakes fell to the floor following an innocuous challenge from Bolasie. His injury was much more serious than it initially appeared; he was not indulging in time-wasting. He was stretchered off, required oxygen and was taken to hospital.

The substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak was called upon almost immediately when Joe Devera collected a loose clearance and his well struck shot was parried for a corner.

Devera was later replaced in favour of Adam Birchall as Barnet adopted a 3-4-3 formation in a search for a late equaliser.

Shots were raining in on the Darlo goal and in particular a fine effort from distance by Bolasie that thudded against the woodwork indicated that a point for Barnet would not have been an unjust outcome.

The Quakers by contrast would probably point to their solid, committed and diligent defending as being the reasons that they were able to inflict on Ian Hendon his first home defeat since he has taken the reins at Barnet.

Two difficult away games follow for Barnet, 5th placed Wycombe Wanders on Tuesday and 4th placed Gillingham on Tuesday.

David Bloomfield.