HARTLEPOOL United spent most of the afternoon buzzing around the Barnet penalty box, but it was the Bees who provided the sting in the tail with a late winner at Victoria Park.
As has so often been the case this season, Pools dominated the play and passed up on several gilt-edged opportunities only to play the price for their wastefulness.
This time it was Barnet midfielder Barry Cogan who stuck the knife into the home si
de with a stunning 84th minute heart-breaker.
Manager Danny Wilson handed a debut to recent loan singing Darryl Duffy and he will hope that the former Rangers and Falkirk youngster can cure his side's misery in front of goal.
The new arrival looked to have made the perfect start for Pools when he had the ball in the back of the net after just 11minutes.
The borrowed Hull City starlet swooped to head home a vicious near-post cross from Ritchie Humphreys but the effort was questionably ruled out for offside.
Pools kept up the pressure with Gary Liddle orchestrating the attacks from midfield, setting up Willie Boland but his half-volley was straight at Bees keeper Lee Harrison.
Liddle sliced a shot wide after a Daly lay-off then the former Middlesbrough man turned provider, clipping a delicious ball over the top only for Michael Nelson to head over the bar with the goal gaping.
The visitors goal was leading a charmed life and they were more than fortunate not to concede on 24 minutes when Daly's close range shot spun off keeper Harrison and onto the bar before bouncing over.
Moments later a wicked Robson cross flashed across the face of goal with Duffy and Daly inches away from connecting.
Liddle forced Harrison to tip over his dipping free-kick two minutes before the break.
Half-time, Hartlepool 0-0 Barnet.
Pools picked up where they left off after the re-start and Foley almost opened the scoring on 47 minutes but he could not keep his header down from Robson's cross and his effort sailed over.
Two minutes later it was Nelson who used his head, leaping to meet Boland's corner only to see Harrison get down to beat it out.
The hosts had the ball in the back of the net on 53 minutes when Foley sneaked in to drive home but once again the effort was ruled out for offside.
At the other end Barry Cogan's low cross almost caught Pools cold but Nicky Nicolau could not get on the end of the pass at the back post.
Cogan popped up again seconds later as his 25 yard shot whistled just over the bar.
Pools wasted another great chance however when Robson was left unmarked at the back post and picked out by Foley only to send his free header over.
Robson then burst through on goal only to be denied by the advancing Harrison as the hosts' frustration began to grow.
Boland released Foley in the Barnet box but the youngster was blocked out only for Nelson's header from the resultant corner to rebound off the crossbar.
Barnet defender Nicolau ten had a go from 25 yards and his low skidding shot slid inches past the far post.
Pools looked to have a decent claim for a penalty on 78 minutes when Foley appeared to have his legs taken away from him by Simon King but referee Robert Shoebridge saw nothing untoward.
With just six minutes remaining the Bees stung the hosts when Cogan was allowed to tee himself up for a shot which duly found its way to the top corner. In stoppage time Liddle was denied a leveller when Harrison tipped his free kick over the bar.
Full-time Pools 0-1 Barnet.
Hartlepool United: Konstantopoulos, Barron, Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Foley, Liddle, Boland, Robson, Daly, Duffy.
Subs: Provett, E Williams, Bullock, Gibb, D Williams.
Barnet: Harrison, Devera, Nicolau, King, Yakubu, Bailey, Hessenthaler, Puncheon, Cogan, Sinclair, Warhurst.
Subs: Flintney, Gross, Charles, Graham, Viera.
Referee: R Showbridge (Derbyshire).
