In a game where Stevenage shaded the first half it was an energetic and determined Barnet side who emerged for the second and deservedly took all three points.
In the late summer heat of Broadhall Way this battle of Hertfordshire's premier teams started slowly.
It burst into life on 14 minutes when Boro's Anthony Elding struck a firm if straight forward shot at Bees debutant keeper David Forde. His poor save saw the ball spill out of his hands and Rocky Baptiste was there to stab the ball home from close range.
The closest Barnet came to scoring in the first 20 minutes was through a backpass to Lionel Perez and when his casual clearance hit Giuliano Grazioli's rear and cannoned just past the post.
Barnet keeper Forde redeemed himself ten minutes after the goal when once again Elding was through one-on-one and he produced a superb save to deny the Boro forward.
Baptiste again went close after having his header tipped on to the crossbar after some fine work by Elding on the right.
The resulting corner saw Barnet desperately clear the ball of their line when Jason Goodliffe steered his header goalwards.
At this stage it was all Stevenage, but that was to change. Barnet started the second half much the brighter and on 57 minutes they received their just rewards.
A fine snapshot by Grazioli crashed back off the Boro bar and Peter Beadle was on hand to crash the ball home from six yards.
Beadle himself almost made it two in two minutes when his turn and shot from the edge of the penalty area was well saved by Perez.
Stevenage flickered briefly with Jamie Cook's fine free-kick being well saved by Forde, but it was Barnet who came out with the three points when after 66 minutes a superb cross was met by the head of Ben Strevens.
His deft header was pushed on to the post by Perez and the rebound was poked home by former Stevenage hero Grazioli.
All in all Barnet thoroughly deserved the three points.