Izale McLeod struck twice as Barnet battled back to beat Gillingham 3-1 in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday night.
Garry Richards’ early strike was cancelled out six minutes later by McLeod’s penalty, and Mark Marshall scored with a rasping late drive before McLeod sealed it.
Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler made five changes to the side that lost to AFC Wimbledon at the weekend with striker Jo Kuffour and keeper Paulo Gazzaniga handed their first starts in a Gillingham shirt.
A power-cut delayed kick-off but Gillingham burst out of the darkness and went ahead as Richards powered in Luke Rooney’s fifth minute corner. The Bees responded on 11 minutes when Clovis Kamdjo’s surge was halted unfairly by Andy Frampton, and McLeod made no mistake from 12 yards.
Gillingham controlled after the set-back, and visiting keeper Liam O’Brien went full-stretch to stop Stefan Payne’s header and Rooney’s close-range effort.
The second half continued in a similar vein but Barnet were sharp on the break and Marshall’s crisp strike off the upright edged them ahead on 72 minutes.
The Gills piled forward but Barnet caught them cold again as McLeod counter-attacked before being felled by keeper Paulo Gazzaniga. This time he fired his spot-kick over but McLeod had the final word, breaking free on 84 minutes to wrap up the victory.
Dropping out of the JPT won’t be a big concern in the long run, what will be is seeing Matt Fish (hip), Danny Jackman (knee) and Andy Frampton (calf) all pick up knocks making them doubtful for Saturday’s game with Port Vale at Priestfield.
Gills line up: Gazzaniga, Fish (Whelpdale 71), Richards, Frampton (Davies 78), Jackman, Nouble, Montrose, Weston, Rooney, Kuffour (Kedwell 84), S Payne.
Subs not used: Flitney, Oli.
Goal: Richards (5).
Booked: Frampton (11), Montrose (51), Weston (55), Gazzaniga (77), S Payne (91).
Barnet line up: O’Brien, Kamdjo, Uddin, Leach, Borrowdale, Byrne, Hughes, Marshall, Deering (Vilhete 90), Taylor (Owusu 88), McLeod (Kabba 87).
Subs not used: Brill, Cox.
Goals: McLeod (pen 11) & (84), Marshall (72).
Booked: Byrne (52), Borrowdale (92).
Referee: Mr Scott
Attendance: 1,278 (49 Barnet).