Below-par Barnet drew a blank for the first time this season, losing 1-0 at home to Wrexham at The Hive, but remain top of the Conference by a point.

The Bees lacked the incisive cutting edge in front of goal which has typified their season to date and it can be no coincidence Martin Allen’s side failed to make the net bulge with skipper Charlie MacDonald missing for the second consecutive match.

Midfielder Robbie Evans won the game for Wrexham in controversial circumstances, slotting home after what looked like handball in the build-up.

Allen handed player-coach Jon Nurse his first Barnet start since April in place of the injured MacDonald. The Barbadian forward was partnered by John Akinde up top.

In midfield, Luisma Villa and Lee Cook started on the flanks, with vice-captain Curtis Weston and Sam Togwell in the centre of the park.

At the back, Andy Yiadom, Bondz N’Gala, David Stephens and Elliot Johnson were in front of goalkeeper Graham Stack.

On the bench, Keanu Marsh-Brown returned to the matchday 16 for the first time since coming on as a substitute against Dartford on August Bank Holiday Monday.

For Wrexham, five-goal top-scorer Louis Moult overcame a weekend fitness scare to start up front, whilst Evans deputised for the injured Jay Harris in the centre of midfield.

Barnet began brightly and created the first chance of note after five minutes when Cook and Johnson combined well down the left-hand side before crossing for Luisma to scuff agonizingly wide.

Akinde continued the Bees’ bright start by testing Wrexham goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann with a rising effort from the corner of the penalty area which needed stopping by the Stoke City loanee.

Stand-in captain Weston then let fly from 25 yards; Bachmann getting down to push the midfielder’s stinging effort away in an unconvincing manner.

After a bright start, the Bees settled down and although they were not stretched by the Dragons, they were struggling to make the ball stick in the final third long enough to truly test their visitors.

A Cook cross from the left after half-an-hour required a strong palm away from Bachmann, who in doing so, denied Akinde what would have been a simple header at the back post.

The big forward saw another good chance cut out when Luisma pulled the ball back from the left-hand flank, only for Joe Clarke to rob the former Alfreton Town forward with a perfectly-timed challenge.

The first half drew to a close goalless for just the second time in a Barnet game this season; the only other game to end in a first-half stalemate being the dramatic 2-1 win over Alfreton Town ten days ago.

Barnet started the second period in a similar fashion to the first and had their best chance of the game shortly after the restart.

Akinde stooped to met a Luisma cross with his head but saw his effort beaten away firmly by Bachmann, who had to get down sharply to preserve his clean sheet.

Two minutes later and the visitors were ahead with their first attempt on target.

Evans took advantage of some confusion following a handball by Elliott Durrell to turn and fire low beyond Stack at the near post to hand the Welsh side a lead they scarcely deserved.

With an hour played, Allen introduced long-throw expert Sam Muggleton in place of Johnson and Luke Gambin in place of Nurse as the Bees began to go more route one in an attempt to salvage something from the game.

Gambin’s impact was almost immediate, picking the ball up outside the penalty area and lashing a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the far corner from 20 yards.

Try as they might, Barnet were struggling to force an equaliser, with Marsh-Brown – on as a substitute – employed in a free role behind Akinde but unable to affect the game.

The visitors were more than happy to sit back and protect their 1-0 lead, breaking on occasion.

One such opportunity fell the way of goalscorer Evans, who again took advantage of what appeared to be handball by a team-mate to thrash a bobbling ball wide of Stack’s left-hand post.

Dragons’ substitute Andy Bishop was left frustrated, when with eight minutes left, the away side missed a glorious opportunity to make sure of the points.

Winger Durrell was released down the right and, having seen the former Bury striker free in the middle, could only cross into the hulking figure of N’Gala from the right.

As the minutes ticked by, Marsh-Brown was becoming increasingly involved; bursting through the desolate midfield and playing a one-two with Akinde before picking out Gambin, who won a corner with a low shot.

Despite their best efforts, though, Barnet were unable to take something from the game, slipping to just their second defeat of the season.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N'Gala, Stephens, Johnson (Muggleton 61); Luisma (Marsh-Brown 56), Togwell, Weston, Cook; Nurse (Gambin 61), Akinde.

Subs: Cowler (GK), Mekki.

Wrexham: Bachmann; White, Smith, Hudson, Ashton; York, Clarke, Evans, Durrell; Moult (Bishop 80), Jennings.

Subs: Bailey-Jones, Tomassen, Rushton, Hunt.

Attendance: 1,236 (210 away fans).

Referee: Mr Justin Amey.