This season is heading towards an all too familiar scenario for Barnet supporters.

With three games remaining the Bees are just two points above the League Two relegation zone. 

The almost traditional final day survival routine looks increasingly like it will again be required.

Edgar Davids’ side missed an opportunity to ease the threat of the drop as they welcomed Chesterfield for the penultimate game at Underhill.

However, a 2-0 defeat leaves Barnet very much in trouble.

Davids kept faith with the side which completed a 1-0 defeat over AFC Wimbledon.

In a change to the recent norm, Barnet started the contest brightly and moved the ball at pace through their midfield.

It was the visitors who had the first shot on goal though.

The ball broke to Togwell 20 yards out and his well struck shot forced Graham Stack into a good save. Barnet pressed well for the majority of the opening 45 minutes and looked the more likely side to open the scoring.

John Oster had a low strike saved by Tommy Lee before Jon Nurse’s near post effort was deflected wide of the post. From the resulting corner

Jake Hyde found space in the box but his header was tame and was easily stopped by Lee.

Chesterfield had rarely threatened in the first half and Barnet would have been slightly disappointed to go into the interval level. The second period began at a fast pace.

Barnet pushed forward and Nurse had two shots deflected wide shortly after the restart.

Mark Byrne almost put the Bees ahead with a header which narrowly missed the post and the Irish midfielder then had a low shot saved by Lee.

Chesterfield created a good opportunity to break the deadlock when Scott Boden engineered space in the penalty area to shoot. However, Stack did well and pushed his curled strike wide. From their second attack of the half, the visitors went ahead.

There didn’t seem too much danger when O’Shea collected the ball 20 yards out but his curled strike found the top corner of Stack’s net.

Barnet looked to respond and fashioned a good chance as Byrne broke through the Chesterfield defence and tried to square the ball to Hyde.

Unfortunately for the Bees the ball was cleared and David Stephens could only head the resulting corner wide.

Chesterfield defended well after going ahead and they looked dangerous on the counter-attack. 

On 78 minutes the visitors doubled their lead. Tendayi Darikwa skipped past two challenges and his low cross into the box was turned home by Togwell.

It was a goal which knocked the fight out of the Bees and despite the introduction of Keanu Marsh-Brown and Harry Crawford, Barnet didn’t really threaten.

O’Shea almost added his second as his half volley was stopped by Stack. It was the last chance of the contest.

Barnet fans will undoubtedly see the defeat as a missed opportunity and given results elsewhere, next weekend’s clash against fellow strugglers Torquay United could be crucial in their battle against the drop.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, Flanagan, Stephens, Johnson; Oster, Byrne (Marsh-Brown 79), Weston, Davids, Nurse (Crawford 79); Hyde (Beattie 71).

Barnet substitutes: Gambin, N’Toko, Crawford, Beattie, Jenkins, Kuipers, Marsh-Brown.

Chesterfield: Lee, Talbot, Trotman, Cooper, Townsend; Darikwa, Randell (Randell 90), Togwell, Whitaker (Hird 59); O'Shea (Clay 90); Boden.

Chesterfield substitutes: Hird, Henshall, Lester, Clay, Wafula, Barrington. Attendance: 2574 (323).