Chesterfield brought Aaron Downes back into the side at the expense of Kevin Gray, who sat this one out on the bench.

Barnet played one deep midfielder and two wider, more advanced, to prevent our full-backs getting forward, and pushed up to catch Chesterfield repeatedly offside when a longer game was attempted. Thus, the Spireites were unable to fashion any chances in a bland opening period. The Bees had the better shape for the first half of the first half, although they weren't able to get through or around the home defence themselves until Gillet had the game's first shot, which whistled comfortably over Roche's bar. This shot was noteworthy only for the fact that it took nineteen minutes for either side to fashion one.

Chesterfield won the game's first corner on 24 and grew rather more in influence, although Lester was often caught offside - the linesman running with the Bees' defence might have saved a lot of arm work by mounting his flag on top of a hat, for it seemed to be in the air for most of the first half.

The home side came closest to scoring on 30 when Lester and Lowry both had shots from a Leven cross, but the keeper proved equal to both of them. Leven put a free kick narrowly over after Lester was fouled but Barnet were able to offer a threat through good balls inside Picken whenever he tried to support the attack.

Kovacs was booked for a clumsy foul on Bishop on 42 and Barnet nearly ended the half in the lead when a speculative Wright shot was deflected out of Roche's path by Picken, but the keeper was able to change direction to claim the ball.

Halftime: 0-0.

Adam Rooney came on for Lowry at half time. Barnet to made a substitution at the interval, replacing the tidy-looking Gillet with Nicolau at left-back.

Lester laid a good ball into Winter's path on 49 but the midfielder's shot was deflected for a corner. Bishop stayed down long enough on 58 to persuade referee Boyeson to award a foul against Fletcher after making a clear signal to the effect that no foul took place. It became apparent that, after a first half built around some tidy if unproductive play,Barnet's second-half tactics would change somewhat, to concentrate on more direct frustration of the home side in a manner that home supporters were made too familiar with last season.

Puncheon was booked for going in late on Robertson, who was showinggood effort on the home left. Lester started and finished a quick move on 62, finding Fletcher in the middle and taking a pass from Leven after moving up the field, but his chipped effort was off target.

Barnet took the lead on 68 when Norville was given space enough to head a Nicolau cross home. Chesterfield tried to increase the pressure on the Barnet goal and fashioned several corners but were unable to apply the killer touch, although it needed a calm Devera clearance off the line to deny Lester on 73.

Barnet were, unsurprisingly, happy to slow the game down from hereon in. Mr Boyeson appeared to aid them in this by stopping the "multi-ball" system during the second half. The ball went out for a goal kick and Roche retrieved the thing only to find another ball on the pitch. It hadn't happened before and was hardly the stuff to make governments fall, but it was enough for Mr Boyeson. Inevitably, the ball immediately went onto the Cross Street end and was retained by a visiting supporter, further adding to the frustration!

Jackson replaced Winter on 74; the Scot had had a decent game in a deep midfield role, breaking up almost everything that came his way, but the time had come to kitchen sink it. The introduction of the substitute led to Lester appearing withdrawn behind Fletch, Rooney and Jackson, though, and compromised our most dangerous forward's effectiveness. Barnet brought on Thomas to replace Norville.

Time wasting and frustration increased as Leven was booked for a foul on Bishop. O'Cearuill replaced the ailing Yakubu, who had been immense all afternoon and had hardly given Fletch a sniff. Almost immediately Fletcher forced Harrison to tip over the bar, while Leven shot several yards wide. The fourth official put the tin lid on a horrible afternoon by announcing a mere three minutes of added time, but don't hold the officials responsible for the result - whether we'd have equalised if it were thirty minutes is not a foregone conclusion. The ref rounded off the afternoon's entertainment by failing to act when Burton appeared to kick at Lester, then throw a punch, in stoppage time.