In a full-blooded derby duel, Orient failed to find their rhythm against the robust visitors and failed to carve out a single chance in the first half.
Indeed, it was the lowly visitors who looked the better side in the opening 45 minutes and with steadier finishing could have been ahead.
But Orient hit back in the second half and should have finally buried their rivals seven minutes from time after stuttering into life.
Shane Tudor burst down the right and sent the ball fizzing across the Barnet goal but Orient substitute Lee Steele scuffed the ball wide from five yards.
The encounter was never a classic and in a first half littered with free-kicks it was Barnet, inspired by Andy Hessenthaler, who dominated proceedings.
As Orient struggled to get going Ben Strevens fired over for the visitors then Tresor Kandol burst through but was denied by Glen Morris in the home goal.
Barnet, who worked Trojan-like in midfield, went close again before the break but Jason Norville's header was saved by Morris.
After the break the keeper was in action again saving Hessenthaler's shot from distance before Orient slowly found their form.
Barnet keeper Matthew Reed pulled off a stunning save from Paul Connor's close-range header following Tudor's cross on 51 minutes - Orient's first effort on target.
With the bit between their teeth Daryl McMahon saw a couple of efforts charged down as Orient stepped up the pace.
In a bid to win the game orient boss Martin Ling threw strikers Jabo Ibehre and Steele into the fray and in the closing stages Tudor went close before Steele's miss of the match.
Ibehre shot wide six minutes from time before Barnet almost snatched victory in stoppage time when Hessenthaler headed just over.