Barnet returned to losing ways as they were beaten away at Stockport County, after they broke their run of defeats with a draw against Bromley at the weekend.

Jack Stretton scored as a substitute for the second game running as Stockport strengthened their grip on a play-off place with a 2-1 win over the Bees, following their hosts’ 2-2 draw away at Hayes Lane.

The National League strugglers, who parted ways with manager Tim Flowers last week, ended their five-game losing run with the draw at Bromley that ended 10-a-side.

The hosts took an eighth-minute lead in that game when Liam Trotter scored from a Michael Cheek cross.

But Bromley were reduced to 10 men four minutes later when Joe Kizzi fouled Courtney Baker-Richardson in the box and was shown a straight red card. Baker-Richardson stepped up to level from the spot.

The 10 men regained the lead in the 61st minute when Liam Daly was deemed to have blocked an effort with his arm and Cheek duly put the resulting spot kick past Aymen Azaze.

But again the lead was short-lived as two minutes later Barnet’s Michael Petrasso collected an Ephron Mason-Clark cross and launched it into the top corner.

Barnet were reduced to 10 men with nine minutes left as James Dunne was shown a second yellow card, but neither team were able to find a winner.

The respite from defeat was short-lived, as Stockport took all three points.

Harry Cardwell’s header hit a post for County even before they took a ninth-minute lead, captain Liam Hogan finishing at the second attempt from Tom Walker’s cross.

Paddy Madden was denied by a brilliant defensive block and the Stockport debutant headed off target from a glorious chance on the hour.

Sam Minihan had an effort cleared off the line by Liam Daly, and the Barnet skipper was rewarded when his side equalised through Alexander McQueen’s well-taken goal.

Stretton, though, stepped off the bench in the 81st minute and scored just two minutes later after Minihan did well to create the opportunity.

After the Stockport match, interim coach Paul Fairclough told the club website: “We’ve got a group of boys that are together. Really, really together.”