Barnet were beaten for the first time in five matches on Tuesday night, when they were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Sutton.

The loss keeps the Bees seven points adrift at the foot of the National League table, despite a sensational comeback to beat Altrincham at the weekend.

Omar Bugiel scored the only goal of the game in midweek as Sutton moved up to second place against a Barnet side who went into the match on the back of a four game unbeaten run.

Coby Rowe headed wide for Sutton after five minutes, while at the other end, Craig Eastmond blocked a shot from Ephron Mason-Clark.

Donovan Wilson was inches away from the opener in the 26th minute as the U’s pressed, with the first half held up by an injury to goalkeeper Aymen Azaze, who was taken to hospital after the match with a suspected concussion.

The youngster left the field on a stretcher following a collision with Isaac Olaofe and 17-year-old James Callan came on.

Callan denied Harry Beautyman from close range in the 51st minute but Sutton did open the scoring with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Rob Milsom’s corner found Louis John and after his shot hit a post, the ball fell kindly for Bugiel to fire home.

Barnet’s spirits were high going into the contest, after they had staged a remarkable recovery to win 3-2 away at Altrincham in their previous fixture.

Altrincham started on the front foot and led 2-0 after 16 minutes.

Ryan Colclough produced a superb strike from outside the penalty area after four minutes before Alistair Smith met Ritchie Sutton’s cross to double the lead.

Courtney Baker-Richardson pounced on an error from home goalkeeper Tony Thompson to pull one back moments before the break.

Barnet completed the turnaround in a dramatic finale when Ephron Mason-Clark and Tomi Adeloye scored in the final two minutes.

Following the defeat to Sutton, manager Simon Bassey said there was lots of improving to do.

“It was always going to be our biggest test,” he told the club website. Unfortunately for us our energy levels are decreasing as the games come. We need to try and get some players fresher if we can. We’ve got lots of improving still to do.”