Barnet succumbed to defeat at the Crown Ground when Accrington Stanley's Billy Kee scored the winner in the 70th minute. There was plenty of endeavour shown by the Bees all evening, but rarely did the Bees create genuine goalscoring opportunities.
Kenny Gillet slotted into the left-back berth, replacing the departed Matt Lockwood, Daniel Leach being his replacement at centre-back. Dave Livermore came into central midfield, taking over from Micah Hyde and Ed Upson took over on the left-flank from Albert Jarrett.
The Bees came out of the blocks first, with Leach repelling the aerial danger that the home side posed.
Upson had a shot that was high and wide on 11 minutes, but gradually Accy got to grips with their task and should have taken the lead on 20 minutes when Michael Symes created an opening that was wasted.
Ten minutes from the break Leach just failed to connect from a free-kick which could have given the Bees a lead.
Barnet's determination to give their all was well exemplified by Albert Adomah. One minute he was making a brave block in his own penalty box, the next he was weaving his way down the right flank.
Adomah's progress was often thwarted by cynical blocks; it seemed as if Accy were taking turns to foul the wing man.
In the second-half Robert Grant spurned a good chance for Stanley when he failed to connect and the home side scored the decisive goal in the 70th minute when Symes, again the danger man, centred from the right for the substitute Kee to tap home.
Jarrett was added to the fray, replacing Upson and the returning Luke Medley was introduced, replacing Kenny Gillet, as the Bees strove to level the scores by pushing men forward.
Late on, in a breakaway, Symes had a chance to double Accy's advantage but not before Joe Devera had gone close with a header.
The final whistle which was greeted with some cheers by the home side, and also some travelling black and white bedecked Grimsby supporters!
On this performance it would be difficult to argue that the Bees did enough to win the match, but the effort and commitment to the cause was there and these characteristics will certainly be required at Grimsby on Saturday.
David Bloomfield.