Northwich spoiled Barnet's Championship party.
With a following of nearly 1,000 and three points needed to secure the Conference title, there was a party atmosphere among the away supporters.
But they were silenced by two goals from Paul Brayson who Northwich fans did not expect to see again. He had been loaned to Gateshead after finding the travel too difficult.
But Northwich manager, Steve Burr, anxious to put a stop to a run of defeats, recalled the Geordie to Cheshire and he was the champagne hero.
Burr said: "It wasn't an inspired decision, it was just that I had to do something to stop this terrible run.
"I told our players to go out and excite me and the spectators and I can't tell you how proud I am of them.
"But Barnet deserve the title and will win it."
Barnet boss Paul Fairclough still raised a smile and said: "It takes me minutes now to get over a defeat rather than days.
"It was about two teams who had to apply themselves on the worst pitch we have played on all season.
"That is not an excuse. It was the same for both sides and Northwich applied themselves better without doubt and I don't believe the occasion got to us."
Northwich matched Barnet for commitment and stunned them with two second-half goals.
A Danny Mayman free-kick was firmly headed home by Brayson who later benefited from the harrying work of Johnny Allan. He dispossessed Ismail Yakubu and set up Brayson for a thumping finish.
Barnet recovered to apply a spell of pressure but the nearest the game got to another goal was when Brayson struck the crossbar in the last minute.
