It was heartbreak for Accrington Stanley tonight as Barnet left it late to secure a 1-0 win at the Wham Stadium.
John Doolan was only able to name four outfield players on the bench due to suspensions and injuries and the Reds kept the Bees at bay, with Ollie Wright producing some superb saves.
It was a first EFL start for Anjola Popoola, replacing the injured Alex Henderson. Finlay Tunstall came on to the bench, as both Devon Matthews and Donald Love sat out the last games of their suspensions.
Barnet had the ball in the back of the Stanley net within a minute but Kabongo Tshimanga’s effort was ruled offside.
There was not much goalkeeping action until a superb one-handed save from Cieran Slicker kept out a Charlie Brown effort from the edge of the area on 11 minutes.
Tshimanga fired into the side-netting, Ryan Glover’s strike was blocked while Ben Winterburn rifled over the bar as the Bees pressed for the opener.
Glover tried his luck from a free-kick on 29 minutes but his low effort was superbly pushed out by Wright and another Glover effort crashed against the bar on 38 minutes, via a deflection.
After a period of Barnet pressure on 41 minutes, Adam Senior’s final shot was just wide.
Stanley then had a great chance before the half-time whistle with Slicker in action again, doing well to keep out a Seamus Conneely blast.
Boss Doolan brought on Dan Martin for Popoola but chances were at a premium.
Wright denied Ofoborh and was in action again, pushing out another Glover goalbound strike on 79 minutes.
Then it was heartbreak for the Reds when Tshimanga got on the end of a long ball forward two minutes later and chipped Wright for the winner to break Stanley hearts.
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