Barnet ended the game with four strikers on the field but were still unable to force an equaliser and fell to their first home defeat since August, going down 2-1 against Accrington Stanley.
Aaron McLean, Shaun Batt and debutant Kevin Lisbie were all thrown on to assist John Akinde in the search for a leveller at The Hive, but for just the second time this season Martin Allen's men were beaten on their own turf.
Chances were at a premimium and although the Bees showed improvement from an insipid loss at AFC Wimbledon last weekend, they were never close to the performances of their last two home victories.
A 23rd-minute own goal from Sam Togwell put John Coleman's side in front before Michael Gash, fresh from beating Stanley's Matt Crooks to the League Two Player of the Month award on Friday, levelled in the 34th.
But Sean McConville's neatly-taken strike after 62 minutes proved the winner for the Lancashire side.
Allen made three changes to the side beaten at AFC Wimbledon last weekend with Bira Dembele returning to the starting XI following injury after missing the Bees’ last three fixtures.
Gash and Luke Gambin also came into the side with Gavin Hoyte and McLean the men to make way.
There were also places on the bench for summer signings Lisbie and Batt; the former making his first appearance in the matchday squad due to a hamstring injury which had plagued him since pre-season.
Stanley made one change, bringing Dean Winnard in for Joe Wright – who was on international duty – whilst new signing Kaid Mohammed began on the bench.
Chances were few and far between early on, though Bees stopper Max Crocombe was called into action in the fourth minute to tip Billy Kee’s effort over the crossbar.
Barnet responded through Gambin, who brought a smart stop out of the 6ft9in Jason Mooney in Stanley’s goal after a quarter of an hour.
But the visitors, having made the brighter start of the two, took the lead in the 23rd minute in fortuitous circumstances.
Josh Windass, son of Hull City legend Dean, motored down the left and cut back into the centre of the penalty area aimlessly. Togwell, desperate to clear, turned his low cross past a helpless Crocombe from six yards to put the away side in front.
Despite having created little of note, Barnet drew level 11 minutes later.
Having narrowly survived scoring a second own goal, the Bees broke quickly and Mauro Vilhete slotted through for Gash to shoot underneath Mooney from the edge of the penalty area.
Barnet improved from that point and might have snuck into the lead before half-time when Gash and John Akinde linked up, the latter only prevented from getting a shot on target by a thundering Matty Pearson challenge.
Stanley re-took the lead with their first clear-cut chance of the second half, McConville receiving the ball down the right-hand side of the penalty area before firing low across goal and glancing his effort in off the far post.
Allen reacted almost immediately by introducing Shaun Batt in place of Curtis Weston. That change meant Vilhete dropping in at right-back and Yiadom moving into the centre of midfield.
The introduction of Batt pepped up the Bees’ attack briefly with the former Leyton Orient man failing to connect with a chance of his own before Yiadom slammed low into the palms of Mooney seconds later.
But Barnet were indebted to Crocombe a few minutes later when a stunning Stanley breakaway saw Piero Mingoia draw a good stop from the outstretched foot of the Kiwi.
Playing with increased urgency, Barnet ought to have levelled when Gambin whipped a tantalising cross to the back post but Batt was unable to get in front of his marker.
Substitute McLean then thumped a free-kick narrowly over from 30 yards with Mooney having flung himself full-length across his goal in anticipation.
The Bees’ final change saw Lisbie introduced for his full debut in place of Vilhete.
Dembele came the closest with a thumping header from a McLean corner but Barnet were unable to snatch a point at the death.
Barnet: Crocombe; Yiadom, N'Gala, Dembele, Johnson; Weston (c) (Batt 64), Togwell; Vilhete (Lisbie 78), Gash (McLean 60), Gambin; Akinde.
Subs: Stephens (GK), Nelson, Champion, Muggleton.
Accrington Stanley: Mooney; Wakefield, Pearson, Winnard (c), Buxton; Mingoia (Gornell 84), Crooks, Coneely, McConville; Windass (Mohammed 67); Kee.
Subs: Etheridge (GK), Barry, Procter, Bruna, Goulding.
Referee: Darren Deadman.
Attendance: 2,229 (154 away supporters).
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