And so Barnet lose at home in the League for the first time this season. And it took until mid-December for someone to manage it. The Bees were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline as Crewe Alexandra continued their fine away form.
Manager Ian Hendon selected Craig McAllister to partner John O'Flynn upfront with Daniel Leech returning to central defence, Calum Butcher moving to right back. There was also a start for Dean Sinclair playing out wide on the right. Mark Hughes returned from suspension.
In the opening minute the Alex left-back Matt Tootle progressed down his side of the pitch in a dangerous fashion in the very first minute, an indication that the visitors were intent on making an impression.
Early doors Jake Cole was called upon to save from Clayton Donaldson and concede a corner and worse was to come when in the 25th minute Butcher attempted an interception, only to tee the ball up for Joel Grant who punished the mistake with an assured finish.
The Crew centre-back Danny O'Donnell was getting his head to most of the balls that Barnet were delivering into the box as the visitors went about extending their lead.
Barnet were most definitely back in it when an Albert Jarrett delivery into the box, from the right after he had toyed with the right-back, was swept over the line by a predatory Sinclair to level the scores just before half time.
If the Bees were slightly fortunate to be level they began the second half believing that they could capitalise on their good fortune and for a period in the second half they were in the ascendancy.
Early in the second half O'Flynn latched onto a defensive error and so nearly gave the Bees a lead. This was better from the Barnet.
Unfortunately this was a bit of a false dawn as the Railwaymen gradually got their game back on track.
The Alex took the lead in the 67th minute when Donaldson took advantage of hesitancy following a long kick down the middle by his keeper; he was onto the chance like a whippet and finished with no little guile and lofted the ball over Cole.
Micah Hyde hit the bar with a drive from distance and McAllsiter went close from a cross from substitute Yannick Bolasie but on the balance of play and chances it would be hard to argue that the result was anything but a fair one. Although had the Bees took their chances when they had the visitors rocking early in the second half it might have been a different story.
Accrington Stanley with four consecutive wins under their belts are the Bees' next opponents on Saturday when Barnet head north to the Crown Ground.
David Bloomfield.
