The feel good factor generated by the 3-0 victory over Aldershot at the weekend was put on hold after two first half goals by Shrewsbury gave Barnet an uphill task that they never quite managed to tackle.
Ian Hendon chose to retain the back four and the strikers from the previous match but introduced Lee Sawyer and Dave Livermore on the wide flank positions at the expense of Albert Adomah and Albert Jarrett.
Prior to kick-off John O'Flynn name was mildly jeered by the home fans when the teams were announced over the PA system.
The Shrews opened brightly and only an excellent save from Jake Cole prevented the home side taking an early lead and worse was to follow in the 12th minute when a cross from the right by Lewis Neal was deftly glanced into the corner of the net by Craig Disley.
The home side increased their lead in the 28th minute. Steve Leslie cut in from the right wing and once in the Barnet box released an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. A great goal if you were wearing blue and yellow.
In the second half, with Adomah having replaced Sawyer and Paul Furlong having come on for Jake Hyde Barnet tried valiantly to get back into the game, but the Bees did need to score during the opening exchanges of this half if something was to be gleaned from this match.
With 15 minutes of the half gone Furlong had a chance with a volley from a Livermore cross but the home keeper held his effort.
Midway through the second half something extraordinary happened. The referee, Graham Salisbury, was on the receiving end of some ribbing since, in the eyes of the home supporters, he gave a series of decisions they felt favoured the Bees. His response? He mockingly applauded the crowd with his arms raised above his head!
Barnet continued to have the bulk of the possession in the second half as the home side were content to retreat and attempt to catch Barnet on the break as the Bees pushed numbers forward.
Joe Devera at centre-back continued his fine form of late; his reading of the game, interceptions and heading were all of a high standard.
The Bees are at Underhill on Saturday when they host Cheltenham Town.
David Bloomfield