A late Nicky Featherstone header wasn’t enough to secure a point as Pools fell to a 2-1 defeat to third-place Barnet at the Suit Direct Stadium.
Kevin Phillips made three changes to the side that suffered defeat at Solihull Moors last week, which included new loan signings Terrell Agyemang and Kwaku Oduroh.
The visitors started strongly as Anthony Hartigan saw his free-kick bend just wide of the target three minutes in.
Pools were eventually punished for their slow start as Barnet’s Gatlin O’Donkor found himself some space before sliding an effort past Joel Dixon and into the bottom corner.
After 17 minutes, Phillips’ men made a rare break forward as Chay Cooper switched the ball over to Mani Dieseruvwe but his effort was saved comfortably by Josh Keeley in the Barnet net.
O’Donkor had the chance to grab his second of the game as he met Ben Coker’s cross in the area, but his effort floated over the bar.
Hartigan’s set pieces continued to cause problems for the Pools defence and this time they were made to pay. The Barnet midfielder managed to curl his free-kick from near the corner flag into the far top corner and past the grasp of Dixon to double the visitors’ lead.
Pools started the second half much brighter, with Manny Onariase and Dieseruvwe both missing headed chances. Cooper’s effort from the edge of the box also forced a good save from Keeley.
Callum Cooke came close with just minutes to go as his free-kick was tipped around the post by Keeley. Featherstone did manage to pull one back with a brilliant glancing header, but Pools couldn’t find the crucial equaliser.
Pools: Dixon, Oduroh (Duffus 45), Onariase, Parkes (Lacey 26), Ferguson, Featherstone, Cooke, Agyemang, Cooper (Dickenson 72), Grey, Dieseruvwe
Subs (not used): Stephenson, Wallace
Goal: Featherstone (90)
Barnet goals: O'Donkor (12), Haritgan (44)