Barnet exited the Emirates FA Cup at the first round, falling to defeat at the hands of Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium.
Two goals either side of the break gave the Cod Army a two-goal advantage and despite Callum Stead striking beautifully late on, it wasn’t meant to be for the visitors.
Dean Brennan made changes to the side that shared the spoils at Barrow last Saturday, with Kane Smith and Mark Shelton in from the start, as well as Britt Assombalonga being named in the first XI.
Romoney Crichlow and Anthony Hartigan took their places on the bench, with Lee Ndlovu rested completely for this afternoon’s tie.
It was a quiet opening five minutes at the Highbury Stadium, with neither side able to create any chances in the opening stages.
There was a break in play as Britt Assombalonga went to ground and had to receive treatment to a head injury.
The break in play allowed the hosts to gather themselves and shortly after, Arsenal graduate Zech Medley gave them the lead on 11 minutes from close-range.
The Bees’ first chance of the half came when Danny Collinge played a fantastic long ball to the feet of Idris Kanu, who controlled the ball well, but couldn’t get the right final touch to send it into the back of the net.
Ryan Graydon found himself in dangerous positions in the final third on multiple occasions, but in the first instance, the ball was threaded through to the hosts star man and Owen Evans made the decision to come out his area and clear the danger well.
The Fleetwood number seven then headed over from a Medley cross, with his head in his hands knowing he should’ve doubled his side’s lead.
Cod Army captain Elliott Bonds then got in on the action and struck from outside the area, but with not enough power, the shot was comfortably into the hands of Evans.
An unfortunate first-half switch saw Assombalonga unable to continue following the early incident and Oli Hawkins entered the fray for the final minutes of the first 45.
Callum Stead came the closest for the visitors, with only David Harrington to beat in the Fleetwood net, but he dragged his effort wide.
Our number then forced another effort agonisingly wide after turning well with the ball at the centre circle, but the Bees found themselves a goal down at the break.
Half-Time: Fleetwood Town 1-0 Barnet FC
Barnet had the first shot on target of the second-half, but it was a tame effort from Kanu after he worked the ball well on the edge of the area.
The Bees continued to search for an equaliser and this time Mark Shelton played the ball in front of the face of goal, but no amber and black shirt was there to poke it home.
The second 45 continued, with neither side creating any clear-cut chances in front of goal.
Fleetwood substitute Liam Roberts delivered a couple of successive free-kicks into the danger zone, but nothing to trouble the Bees’ defence.
A double substitution was made with 15 minutes to go. Ronnie Stutter and Ben Winterburn came on in place of Kane Smith and Mark Shelton.
Another double change on 85 minutes saw Nnamdi Ofoborh and Idris Kanu come off for Anthony Hartigan and Romoney Crichlow.
Fleetwood found a second with minutes to go, with Harrison Holgate finding the back of the net for the hosts.
Callum Stead curled the ball beautifully into the top right corner to give the Bees a lifeline as the game entered five minutes of extra time, but a late equaliser couldn’t be found and referee Scott Jackson blew the full-time whistle.
Full-Time: Fleetwood Town 2-1 Barnet FC
Line-Up: Evans, Collinge, Senior, Stead, Kanu (Crichlow 85′), Glover, Shelton (Winterburn 75′), Smith (Stutter 75′), Tavares, Assombalonga (Hawkins 40′), Ofoborh (Hartigan 85′).
Goals: Stead (89′)