Kabongo Tshimanga’s 81st-minute strike sealed victory for the Bees under the Lancashire lights at the Wham Stadium.
88 travelling fans were sent home happy as our January addition centre-forward scored his fifth goal in Barnet colours, a result that sees Barnet bounce back from Saturday’s trip to Colchester.
Dean Brennan made three changes to the starting XI that kicked off against Colchester United on Saturday. Callum Stead returned for his first appearance since the Bees’ Boxing Day trip to Newport County.
Romoney Crichlow also got the nod, featuring in the back-line for the first time since Barrow away in late October, with youngster Jack Howland given the nod for the first time since his arrival last month.
Anthony Hartigan took his place on the bench, with Diallang Jaiyesimi and Rhys Browne also returning to the matchday squad for tonight’s rearranged fixture.
It looked to be the perfect start for the Bees when Kabongo Tshimanga found the back of the net with not even a minute on clock. Some brilliant work by Callum Stead down the left-hand side allowed the number ten to play the ball into the path of the striker, who slotted it home, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside.
Isaac Heath charged towards goal in the hosts’ first attack of the evening, but Stead got an important touch on the ball to deny an early opportunity for John Doolan’s depleted side.
Cieran Slicker was forced to make a crucial save with just over ten minutes on the clock. A clearance from the Bees’ backline bounced off the back of Charlie Brown and headed towards goal, but our number 29 rose to parry the ball away.
The Bees continued to dominate in the final third, with Jack Howland whipping in a free-kick. But Ryan Glover could only guide his headed effort off target.
Our number 17 found himself in a great position shortly after a played a lovely ball through to Tshimamga from midfield, who took aim, but the effort was wide.
The half progressed and the Bees continued to dominate proceedings, with Glover shooting through a sea of shirts from the edge of the area, but the ball didn’t travel all the way through the Stanley defence.
With ten minutes to go in the first-half, Shaun Whalley was through on goal for the home side, but Danny Collinge did excellently to deter the Stanley number seven and force him off target.
The closest chance of the half came when Nnamdi Ofoborh laid the ball off to Glover following a free-kick, with the winger seeing his goal-bound effort deflected onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
Slicker was called into action with half-time looming, making a save to deny Seamus Coneely from point-blank range to keep the game level at the half-way stage.
Half-time: Accrington Stanley 0-0 Barnet FC
Barnet kept the momentum following the restart, with Glover’s cross from the byline unlucky not to be met by a black and amber shirt to be poked home.
A Howland free-kick was headed away by Paddy Madden before landing at the feet of Ofoborh who sent a powerful effort towards goal, but it soared over the bar.
Stanley sent an effort on target as we hit the hour mark, but Adam Senior was in the way and made an important block.
Our first change of the night saw Diallang Jaiyesimi replace Howland.
Glover set up Stead who shot from inside the area, but it was straight at Wright.
Our number 15 set himself up for an effort shortly after, sending his strike just inches of the left post after working himself into a good position outside the box.
Ofoborh tried his luck next and forced Wright to punch the ball away for a corner, with Dean Brennan’s keen to break the deadlock.
The constant pressure paid off with less than ten minutes to go in the game. Kanu played the ball down the right flank to find Tshimanga who controlled the ball before looping it over Wright and into the back of the net to give the Bees the late advantage.
A late double switch was made in added time, with Oli Hawkins and Phillip Chinedu replacing our goalscorer and Crichlow, who helped to see out the game for the final moments before the referee’s whistle blew to signal the conclusion of the game and Barnet’s three points.
Full-time: Accrington Stanley 0-1 Barnet FC
Line-up: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Stead, Kanu, Glover, Winterburn, Howland (Jaiyesimi, 63’), Tshimanga (Hawkins, 90+3’), Crichlow (Chinedu, 90+3’), Ofoborh
Goals: Tshimanga (81’)