A 96th-minute strike from Mark Shelton secured victory for the Bees under the lights at The Hive, with the three points making it four wins from five.
Dean Brennan made three changes to the side that beat Oldham Athletic on Saturday. Joe Kizzi started at the back, with Nik Tavares suspended, with Mark Shelton replacing Anthony Hartigan in the middle and Rhys Browne partnering Kabongo Tshimanga, meaning Diallang Jaiyesimi took his place on the bench.
The Bees were had a corner inside the first minute of the evening and the ball eventually fell to Nnamdi Ofoborh outside the box. Our number 28 struck as confident effort goalwards, but it headed off target.
The Bees controlled the opening ten minutes of possession but didn’t create chances to test the travelling Tranmere defence.
Shelton sent in a free-kick in the opening stages, but it was straight into the hands of Joe Murphy in the Tranmere net.
The Rovers’ best chance of the first 45 came just after the 15-minute mark. Charlie Whittaker went on a solo run towards goal, but Idris Kanu did well to track and put the number seven enough so that when he got his shot away, he was off balance and sent it wide.
With little action in either box, Tranmere got the ball into the Bees’ box on 20 minutes with Connor Jennings sending an effort towards Cieran Slicker, but a perfectly timed challenge from Nnamdi Ofoborh sent the ball out for a corner.
A break in play came following a foul on Jennings, with the Tranmere captain having to be stretchered off the pitch.
The visitors had an entry into the Barnet box, with Nathan Smith getting the connection, but Slicker did well to smother the ball on the line and deny the opportunity.
Kabongo Tshimanga found himself with the ball at his feet in the final third as the half progressed, with only Murphy to beat, but the ball eventually ran away from him and he was shown a yellow for simulation.
Another Shelton free-kick was this time played down the right-hand side of the wall to Rhys Browne, who tried to cross the ball back into the area, but it was deflected out for a corner in added time.
The final action of the first 45 saw Browne deliver a ball to the head of Phil Chinedu in the area, but the number 22 was nudged off the ball.
Half-time: Barnet FC 0-0 Tranmere Rovers
The second-half began quietly, with Tranmere’s Billy Blacker having the first shot on target after driving the ball inside the area ten minutes after the restart, but it was comfortable for Slicker.
Shelton struck a free-kick from a dangerous area that ricocheted off the wall and consecutive corners followed as the Bees upped the tempo, but the deliveries either didn’t beat the first man or were easily cleared.
Dean Brennan made a double change on 63 minutes, replacing Rhys Browne and Philip Chinedu with Hartigan and Smith and the tempo soon shifted in the Bees’ favour.
Both Kanu and Smith had efforts on goal as Barnet progressed the ball into the final third continuously, but still no opening was found.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, the ball fell to Adam Senior who sent a powerful effort goalwards, but it was parried away by Murphy.
Ryan Glover made way for Diallang Jaiyesimi with eight minutes of normal time to be played, with the late substitute sending in a brilliant cross that was headed into the path of Shelton, but he slashed his effort off target on his weaker foot.
The best chance of the game for the Bees came on 88 minutes, with Kanu glancing the ball across goal to find Senior at the back post. Our number five went to poke it home but a Tranmere body was there to make the block.
Another chance for Shelton came, with Kanu again providing the pass, but the shot was into the hands of Murphy again as the fourth official indicated an additional five minutes to be played.
Oli Hawkins was introduced in the dying minutes, taking the place of Kabongo Tshimanga.
Just as the tie looked to be heading to a goalless stalemate, The pressure continued to build for Barnet and it was our number 11 again who was able to find an opening to deliver the ball into a dangerous area. It was headed on by Rovers’ body in the box to the feet of Shelton who with a diving header sent the ball into the back of the net to give Barnet the win.
Full-time: Barnet FC 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
Line-up: Slicker, Collinge, Senior, Browne (Hartigan, 63’), Kanu, Glover, Shelton, Tshimanga (Hawkins, 90+8’), Chinedu (Smith, 63’), Ofoborh, Kizzi
Goals: Shelton (90+6’)
Attendance: 1,983, with 422 visitors