Ten-man Barnet saw their lead at the Conference summit cut to four points thanks to a 1-0 defeat against Wrexham, who completed the double over the Bees.

Robbie Evans got the only goal of the game midway through the first half – just the second of his career after netting the winner at The Hive in September.

Defeat in north Wales means Barnet have now lost their last three on the road - following defeats at Grimsby Town and Lincoln City last month - undermining their status as the Conference's best travellers.

Barnet were much improved after the break and there could have been few complaints if Martin Allen’s side had equalised. However their task was made more difficult when John Akinde was sent off for two bookable offences.

The powerful striker will now miss Saturday's crunch clash at home to Grimsby Town, who are currently fourth in the table. Bristol Rovers and Macclesfield Town third, both on 64 points.

Struggling Southport did the Bees a favour by holding Macclesfield to a 1-1 draw, whilst Rovers were 1-0 winners at Grimsby, allowing the Gas to return to second place.

Allen made just one change to the side which beat Woking 2-1 last weekend, with Conor Clifford handed his first start for the Bees in place of Luisma Villa.

The Spanish midfielder was benched, with David Stephens against amongst the substitutes after Jack Saville was paired with Bondz N’Gala at centre-back.

Graham Stack began in goal, with Andy Yiadom, N’Gala, Saville and Johnson in front of him. Clifford, Curtis Weston, Sam Togwell and Lee Cook comprised the midfield, with Akinde and Charlie MacDonald in attack.

Wrexham made the brighter start of the two sides, with recent signing from Scunthorpe United, Luke Waterfall, volleying wide from a corner early on.

The hosts came close from another set piece, Steve Tomassen getting up highest to head wide after Stack had punched a free-kick behind.

Louis Moult proved a thorn in Barnet’s side throughout the halfway and could have opened the scoring when a ricochet sent him clear through on goal. Togwell did well to force the former Stoke City striker wide and Stack blocked well with his feet.

In the 24th minute the Dragons made their superiority pay. Midfielder Evans, who scored his first senior goal in Wrexham’s 1-0 win at The Hive earlier in the season, repeating the trick. Moult created the goal, cutting back for Evans to side-foot coolly beyond Stack.

Barnet gradually began to find a route back into the game and might have equalised when MacDonald met Johnson’s cross but could not beat Andrew Coughlin in the Wrexham goal.

Joe Clarke replied for the home side, volleying wide from the edge of the penalty area.

The Bees saw one of two good penalty appeals turned down soon after, with Akinde brought down by Waterfall after MacDonald had flicked the ball into the path of his striker partner.

A second appeal – this time for handball – was denied within a matter of minutes; Akinde heading over the crossbar between the two contentious moments.

The Bees really should have pulled level within second of the restart; Akinde racing onto MacDonald’s pass but failing to beat Coughlin from the kind of situation he has made a habit of scoring from this term.

And the Conference’s 26-goal-top-scorer saw his afternoon go from bad to worse when he was dismissed shortly before the hour.

The big number nine, who had been booked in the first half, picked up his second caution and subsequently a red for simulation in the eyes of referee Ian Hussin.

Allen responded by throwing on Villa in place of Cook and the Spanish midfielder almost struck a stunning equaliser.

The former Racing Santander playmaker let fly with a free kick from 30 yards and was only denied an immediate impact by a fine stop from Dragons keeper Coughlin.

MacDonald was next to try his luck, latching onto Michael Gash’s lofted pass before drawing a low stop from Coughlin.

Barnet continued to carve out chances at will, Luisma firing a low free-kick into the Wrexham wall from 18 yards.

The Dragons still maintained a threat, though, and thought they had a second with a quarter of an hour remaining but the linesman’s flag was up.

Connor Jennings then tested Stack with a curling effort which required a touch from the experience stopper to help it to safety.

The visitors refused to be beaten, though, and continued to throw bodies forward; Togwell heading wide from a corner as the chances continued to stack up.

Even goalkeeper Stack found himself in the Wrexham penalty area as Barnet laid siege on the hosts' goal but it was not to be.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N'Gala, Saville, Johnson; Clifford (Gambin 68), Weston (Gash 55), Togwell, Cook (Luisma 59); Akinde, MacDonald.

Subs: Stephens, Muggleton.

Wrexham: Coughlin; Tomassen, Smith, Waterfall, Ashton; Clarke, Evans (Harris 65); Storer, Jennings, Morris (York 68); Moult (Bishop 82).

Subs: Carrington, Hudson.

Referee: Ian Hussin.

Attendance: 2,727 (107 away supporters).