Barnet are now winless in three games, leaving them 17th in the National League table, after a 1-0 home loss to Sutton United.

The Bees made two changes to the side that lost in the FA Cup replay against Barnet, with Andre Boucaud and Ashley Charles coming in for Elliott Johnson and Wes Fonguck.

James Dobson’s excellent first-half free-kick was all that separated the two sides, keeping both in their respective league positions from before the game.

Neither side posed a real threat in the early stages of the game, but the hosts’ best opportunity came just after the half-hour mark when Ephron Mason-Clarke’s low ball was cleared to the feet of Jack Taylor, whose shot was deflected over.

That missed opportunity proved costly as Sutton went ahead moments later when Dobson stepped up to a free-kick from 25 yards out and bent it perfectly into the top right corner.

Simeon Akinola entered the field for the home side at half-time in place of Jack Taylor, but he was forced off himself only 15 minutes into the half to quickly use two of Barnet’s changes – Byron Harrison came on in his place.

Coulthirst then came close when rounded Ross Worner in the Sutton goal, but he could only find the side netting and he was later brought down on the edge of the area, but Charles could only lift the ball over from the resulting free-kick.

With one last late surge, the Bees were denied by two excellent saves from Worner, firstly tipping Fonguck’s curling effort over the bar before saving at the near post from Coulthirst in stoppage time.

Sutton held on in the final moment to retain their place in the play-offs, while Barnet will have to ensure they win some of their games in hand to move away from the bottom end of the table.

The Bees’ next game sees them go up against Carshalton Athletic in their FA Trophy third round replay tomorrow night.