Barnet slipped to a disappointing and predictable defeat at Meadow Lane this afternoon.

It means Ian Hendon is still looking for his first win since taking charge.

Though the Bees had plenty of the play, they lacked a cutting edge and barely forced the home keeper into a save in what was a game of very few chances.

In contrast, County struck two quality goals in either half to seal three comfortable points.

With Bournemouth winning, the Cherries are now just five points adrift of Hendon's troops.

Barnet made just one change from the side that drew with Grimsby on Tuesday, keeper Lee Harrison coming in for Ran Kadoch, who dropped to the bench.

The hosts had the first effort on goal, Phil Picken seeing a grasscutter from the angle of the box flash well past Harrison's far post.

It was a quiet start, the heavily-sanded pitch not really inviting flowing football.

Both teams had trouble holding on to the ball, passes going astray more often than not.

The Bees were looking reasonably comfortable and enjoying plenty of possession, the Magpies giving little for their fans to get excited about.

Barnet themselves had to wait until five minutes before the interval for their first shot on goal, Albert Adomah's free-kick always going over the bar.

But, just a couple of minutes later, Joe Devera, in attempting to clear his lines, only rolled the ball into the path of Matt Hamshaw 20 yards out and, with Harrison off his line, the County player coolly lifted the ball over him and into the net. It was a quality finish a dismal first half did not really deserve.

The Bees started the second half positively, despite their set-back, Adomah crossing for Yannick Bolasie to head just past the post.

The Magpies almost extended their lead when Delroy Facey met a Hamshaw cross, but his header hit Devera as it looked like it was heading for the net.

It was a better second half, both sides knowing the next goal would probably be crucial.

And it was County who got it on the hour, Jamie Clapham curling a free-kick into the top corner. It was a brilliant strike, the ball finding the net, even though there was a Barnet defender on the line.

The Bees refused to give up, but continued to find it difficult to create chances.

Mark Hughes hit a volley with eight minutes to go, but it was straight at the home keeper, while Devera sent a header well wide after stealing in unmarked for a corner.

At the other end, Harrison did well to block Richard Butler who suddenly found himself in the clear, the game drifting away from the visitors.

BARNET (4-4-2): Harrison; Devera, Yakubu (Porter 45), Breen, Lockwood; Adomah, Hughes, Bishop, Bolasie (Akurang 86); Furlong (Birchall 67), O'Flynn. Subs not used: Kadoch, Deverdics.

Attendance: 3,830 (176 away fans)