Barnet, who have now failed to win in nine games, can consider themselves happier with the outcome after a battling performance.
But, a clean sheet aside, there were few plusses for Vale who have won only twice in nine home games.
Vale handed an instant home debut to centre-half Gareth Owen, who arrived on loan from Stockport on the morning of the game.
But Barnet held their own in the early sparring and the lively Albert Adomah fired the first effort of note a yard too high in the 15th minute.
Unfortunately for the crowd, that incident was as good as it got for most of a disjointed and low quality first half which didn't open up until the closing stages.
The visitors finally threatened four minutes before the break when a poor defensive header by Anthony Griffith led to John O'Flynn landing a shot on the roof of Joe Anyon's net.
And Vale soon countered with Rob Beckwith plunging at the feet of Marc Richards after Simon Richman had played a neat throughball into the striker's path.
Barnet tried to force the pace at the start of the second period as O'Flynn again shot too high before Kenny Gillet's free-kick deflected off the defensive wall for a corner.
The Vale fans began to vent their frustrations and manager Dean Glover had seen enough by the 64th minute, when he brought on his son, Danny, for James Lawrie.
Glover junior's first contribution was a late challenge on Jeremy de Magalhaes which earned the first booking of the game.
But it was left to Vale centre-back Lee Collins to finally land a blow on goal when he headed over from Scott Brown's free-kick.