Barnet dropped five points from the League 2 play-off places on Saturday asa 2-1 defeat at Colchester United extended their winless run to five games.

First-half goals from Kurtis Guthrie and Ben Dickenson gave the Bees an uphill task to return with anything from Essex, as the U's took command against a side starting the day level on points with their hosts.

John Akinde's strike four minutes from time threatened an unlikely comeback but it never materialised, and Colchester hung on for a deserved victory.

Barnet have now won only once in 2017 - and not since January 7 - but can make amends when they travel to Morecambe tomorrow night.

Henry Newman and Rossi Eames made two changes to the team that had been beaten by Mansfield Town the previous week.

Ricardo Santos and Jamal Campbell-Ryce were dropped to the bench and were replaced by Bira Dembele and Justin Amaluzor.

The Bees began the brighter of the two outfits and although United lost two players through injury in the first 15 minutes, they showed a determination not to be rattled and soon regrouped.

The U’s took the lead in the 18th minute when Guthrie was allowed to shoot from 25 yards. His low effort found the corner of the net with Barnet goalkeeper Josh Vickers at full-stretch.

The Bees then needed to stand firm with the game dominated by Colchester, and Vickers kept out another seemingly goal-bound effort from Craig Slater.

The visitors did however look dangerous on the break and Curtis Weston, when well set up by Akinde, should have levelled the scores only for the U’s keeper Sam Walker to deny the midfielder with his feet.

Colchester created a number of opportunities to extend their lead as half-time approached and eventually they broke through the Bees' defence with three minutes remaining.

Barnet were unable to clear their box and when the ball was pumped back into the danger area, Dickenson’s shot ricocheted off Charlie Clough, leaving Vickers stranded.

At the break, Campbell-Ryce was introduced from the bench at the expense of Coulson who had seen little of the ball and cut an isolated figure out on the right flank.

The home side were now no longer under pressure to surge forward; their two goal advantage prompted the U’s to be conservative in their approach and their focus was now on protecting their lead.

The Bees were finding it difficult to create openings and the game for long periods was one of stalemate with the home side more than content to let the clock countdown.

Amaluzor was introduced just after the hour mark and his physical presence did briefly give cause for optimism as he partnered Akinde in attack.

The notion that the game then would gently move towards a home victory were briefly thrown into doubt when with four minutes of normal time remaining Akinde notched his 20th goal of the season.

Mauro Vilhete picked out the prolific striker with a deft chip which Barnet’s number nine headed past Walker to put the Bees back in with a chance of salvaging a point.

Barnet did manage to push the U’s further and further back and forced four corners in the closing moments.

An equaliser at this stage would have been dramatic, but in truth the home side had done enough to deserve the spoils.

Barnet: Vickers, Clough, Nelson, Dembele, Johnson, Coulson (Campbell-Ryce 46), Champion, Weston (Amaluzor 64), Kyei (Bover 68), Vilhete, Akinde.

Unused: Santos, McKenzie-Lyle, Mason-Clark, Sweeney.