Jim Gannon shuffled his back four to replace Shaleum Logan following the defender's midweek recall by Manchester City.

James Smith moved from centre half to right back with Jim McNulty moving from the left to partner Gaz Owen in the middle of the County defence. That meant a recall for Michael Rose who returned at left back.

The County boss also recalled Ryan Lowe and Stephen Gleeson in place of Anthony Pilkington and Jason Taylor, respectively.

County, playing down the slope in the north London sun, should have taken the lead on nine minutes when Ryan Lowe crossed from the right to Tommy Rowe who got across his marker but turned the ball onto the foot of the post.

A minute later Rowe popped up at the other end with an important clearance from a dangerous Jason Puncheon cross.

Puncheon, who enjoyed a terrific afternoon at Edgeley Park earlier this season, caused problems again on 18 minutes with another dangerous cross from the let that Michael Rose luckily sliced clear.

The Hatters had another great chance to take the lead on 21 minutes. Liam Dickinson's brilliant back-heel sent Rowe away down the left. Rowe pulled the ball back to Gleeson who saw his goal bound shot brilliantly blocked by Josh Wright.

County were beginning to get on top of a scrappy game and they carved out another chance on 25 minutes when Lowe glanced Gary Dicker's cross wide.

Half-an-hour in Puncheon pounced when his header was blocked by McNulty but he fired the rebound over the bar.

Ruddy was at full stretch to tip Adomah's cross over and, from the resultant corer, Nicky Nicolau shot wide.

The last chance in the half came County's way when Dickinson was brought down 25 yards from goal. From a central position Rose was off target from the free kick.

During the half-time interval the tanoy announcer apologised for reporting Hereford were winning at Brentford whilst the first half was still being played.

The announcement caused uproar amongst the 1,000-strong Blue & White Army and Peter Ward raced from the dugout into the stand to confront Barnet officials.

James Tunnicliffe was brought on during the break for Rose and, within two minutes, the Hatters were trailing.

Smith brought down Puncheon on the edge of the box. The live-wire winger saw his free kick blocked by the wall but he hit the rebound inside Ruddy's right-hand post.

County weren't behind for long. Four minutes later Rowe latched onto Dicker's long pass and superbly lifted the ball over Lee Harrison in the Barnet goal from the edge of the box.

The game was opening up and Birchall might have put his side in front but pulled his left-foot shot wide.

Gleeson then had a great chance when Dickinson played him in but Harrison made a good save.

Owen came to his side's rescue when he headed yet another dangerous Puncheon cross over his own bar.

Then Ruddy made a flying save to keep out Birchall's volley.

County responded with a free kick from Rowe that Dickinson headed wide.

The Bees, who ended County's record-breaking run last season, ended the Hatters club-record run of ten away wins without defeat after 82 minutes.

Substitute Danny Hart crossed to the far post where Cliff Akurang beat Ruddy with a powerful diving header.

Rowe could have rescued a point for County in the final seconds but his left-foot shot lacked power and Harrison made a comfortable save.