Something had to give and it did. Barnet surrendered their unbeaten away record by losing 2-1 at Macclesfield Town, who remain unbeaten at home this term.

Top-of-the-table Barnet had yet to taste defeat away from The Hive this season before tonight’s trip to Moss Rose, but found themselves 2-0 down to the Silkmen after a first-half stalemate. And, despite their best efforts to force a way back into the game, Martin Allen’s men could not preserve their proud record on the road.

Macclesfield took the lead five minutes into the second half when Scott Barrow fired home a spectacular opener from distance. Fifteen minutes after their first, the hosts doubled up when Chris Holroyd flicked a header home from a free-kick.

John Akinde got one back for the Bees in the 77th minute when he nodded home powerfully from a corner, but it proved to be no more than a consolation.

Allen made three changes to the Bees’ starting line-up for the trip to Moss Rose, with Jack Saville, Sam Togwell and Jon Nurse all coming into the side.

David Stephens, Lee Cook and Luke Gambin all dropped out, with Stephens – missing his first game this season – and Cook both named amongst the substitutes.

Elliot Johnson returned to left-back, with Mauro Vilhete pushed on into the left-hand side of midfield. Saville partnered Bondz N’Gala at the back, whilst Andy Yiadom started at right-back and Graham Stack between the sticks.

In midfield, Curtis Weston and Togwell were once more re-united in the centre, whilst Sam Hoskins and Akinde started up front.

Macclesfield boss John Askey brought Dan Cowan in for the suspended Andy Halls at right-back, whilst Paul Turnbull was only fit enough for the bench.

The Bees had the first chance of the evening when player-coach Nurse tested Macclesfield goalkeeper Rhys Taylor with an effort which the former Chelsea gloveman pushed away for a corner.

Johnson, back in his familiar left-back position, carved out a good opportunity for Hoskins shortly after, crossing to the back post where the Yeovil Town loanee fired over from close range.

Macclesfield’s best chance came via a Barnet error in the 22nd minute; Togwell’s poor clearance affording Waide Fairhurst the opportunity to test the reactions of Stack, the former Arsenal goalkeeper denying the Town forward.

Nurse again troubled Taylor just before the half-hour mark, firing in a crisp left-footed effort which required saving.

Barnet did have the ball in the net five minutes before the break when Weston won possession in the middle and slipped in Akinde, who then rounded Taylor and tucked home before being flagged offside.

Akinde’s was the final chance of the opening period and the two sides went in goalless at the break, with the Bees having made the stronger claim for a half-time lead.

The two sides traded early chances after the re-start. Barnet went close 20 seconds after kicking off the second half; Vilhete bringing a good save out of Taylor with a left-footed volley before substitute Turnbull forced Stack to save on the turn.

In the 50th minute, Macclesfield did take the lead when Barrow, who had seconds earlier fired just over, took aim and arrowed a 35-yard effort into the top corner of the Bees’ goal.

Akinde almost replied for the Bees immediately, controlling a ball forward, swivelling and forcing Taylor into another save.

Barnet saw another good chance blocked after an hour, Akinde unable to bundle home from close range following a Cook corner.

Four minutes later, the home side looked set to equalise when Arthur Gnahoua raced away before crossing for Turnbull, who somehow contrived to fire over when he looked poised to double Macclesfield’s advantage.

Allen’s side did not heed that warning and in the 65th minute, the Silkmen doubled their lead.

From a Wade Fairhurst free-kick, Holroyd connected deftly to nod beyond Stack and leave the Bees with a mountain to climb in order to preserve their unbeaten away record.

Having gone 2-0 down, the Bees responded by changing to three at the back, with Saville replaced by Luisma Villa in an attempt to salvage something from the game.

With 13 minutes remaining, Barnet hauled themselves back into the game when Akinde headed home a Togwell corner to halve the deficit.

It was Luisma who brought a good stop from Taylor a few minutes later, getting a free kick up and over the wall, only to be denied by the stopper.

The Bees tried in vain to dig out an equaliser, with Stack making his way up field more than once to add an extra body at corners, but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser and snatch a point at the death.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N'Gala, Saville (Luisma 71) Johnson; Nurse (Cook HT), Togwell, Weston (c), Vilhete (Mekki 54); Hoskins, Akinde.

Subs: Stephens & Pavey.

Macclesfield Town: Taylor; Cowan, Waterfall, Pilkington, Barrow; Holroyd, Gonzalez, Lewis, Haining (Turnbull 43), Gnahoua; Fairhurst.

Subs: Branagan (GK), Moke, Rouse, Grant.

Attendance: 1,209 (48 away fans).

Referee: Mr Karl Evans.