BARNET blew a strong start to the game to trail Torquay, before losing debutant Anthony Pulis to a red card.

After Izale McLeod had spurned two golden opportunities to take the lead for the Bees, the promotion-chasing visitors claimed the lead with virtually their first attack of the game on 26 minutes.

Left-back Lathaniel Rowe-Turner curled home a shot from just inside the box after striker Billy Kee appeared to have been brought down in the area.

Just two minutes later and the task was made even harder when Pulis, secured on loan until the end of the season from Southampton this week, launched in to a high tackle on Chris Zebroski and was given his marching orders.

Barnet now face an uphill challenge - quite literally given that they will play up the slope at Underhill in the second half – to turn things around.