Former Cardiff City winger Jobi McAnuff played a key role in ending Wrexham hopes of promotion back to the Football League.
The Dragons will cling on to mathematical hopes of clambering into the top seven and earning a play-off spot, but realistically they can start planning for another Vanarama National League season.
Wrexham’s 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient has left them down and just about out in terms of going up.
Club directors can now turn to the task of finding a new manager with Cardiff City coach and former player Craig Bellamy among those being linked with the vacancy.
The only goal at Orient came when McAnuff, whose silky touch and pace has graced the Premier League, created space for himself and fired in a delightful cross which Macauley Bonne headed home on the half hour.
McAnuff is now aged 36, but he is still an effective force at National League level and gave everything for an aggressive Leyton Orient team at Brisbane Road.
Wrexham failed to create even one clear opportunity and can have no complaints about missing out on promotion.
They have earned only six points from 24 on offer since manager Dean Keates left to take over home town club Walsall and first team coach Andy Davies took charge at the Racecourse.Wrexham have one League game left – against Fylde at home – and they still have an outside hope of sneaking into the top seven, but they are relying on rivals slipping up.
They are now 10th after suffering a fourth defeat in five games, while Orient moved up to 13th thanks to their win.
Defender Kevin Roberts returned to the Reds’ starting line-up after completing his three-match suspension with David Raven dropping to the bench.
Wrexham had to win. They dared not fail at Barnet, but they were beaten by a home team who had the edge over the 90 minutes.
Both teams set up in 4-4-2 formations, while Wrexham switched to 4-2-1-3 as they chased the game with Scott Quigley, Paul Rutherford and Scott Boden leading the charge.
Sam Wedgbury was tireless in his efforts to fire up the Welsh team, but dreams of playing in the Football League next season are all but over.
The only goal came when James Jennings lost possession in midfield, McAnuff burst away and drove in a pinpoint cross. Bonne finished with his head to score his 20th goal of the season.
Around 300 Wrexham fans made the trip to Barnet and they made a lot of noise in support of their team.
The departure of Keates to Walsall was a major blow for Wrexham at a time when they were pressing hard for promotion and now club directors must make the right decision to find a long-term replacement.
Davies, Carl Darlington, Stephen Wright and former Cardiff City goalkeeper Michael Oakes were the management team over the last eight games.
Former Chester City midfield player Gary Brabin, currently coaching at Port Vale, Bellamy ex-Connah’s Quay Nomads player Adam Owen, who has been managing Lechia Gdansk in Poland and Wigan Athletic first team coach Anthony Barry have all been linked with the Wrexham job.
Craig Davies, former manager of The New Saints, is also available after leaving Hartlepool.
Bellamy is awaiting the right chance to start his managerial career, but Brain, aged 47, would appear to be among the favourites. He has experience of National League management with Cambridge United, Luton Town, Southport and, most recently Tranmere Rovers.
Leyton Orient (4-4-2): Brill; Ling, Ekpiteta, Happe, Judd; McAnuff, Clay, Adams (Mooney 73), Brophy (Lee 91); Koroma, Bonne. Subs: Grainger, Clayden, Reynolds.
Wrexham (4-4-2): Dunn; Roberts, M Smith, Pearson, Jennings; Mackreth (Wright 67), Wedgbury, Kelly, Rutherford, Boden (Ainge 72), Quigley. Subs: Dibble, Raven, Deverdics.
Referee: Sam Allison (Wiltshire)
Attendance: 5,166 (655 away)
National League Table
| # | Team | Pl | HW | HD | HL | AW | AD | AL | W | D | L | F | A | Diff | Pts |
| 1. | Macclesfield Town | 45 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 11 | 8 | 65 | 46 | 19 | 89 |
| 2. | Tranmere Rovers | 44 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 76 | 42 | 34 | 82 |
| 3. | Sutton United | 45 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 10 | 13 | 65 | 52 | 13 | 76 |
| 4. | Aldershot Town | 45 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 15 | 10 | 63 | 50 | 13 | 75 |
| 5. | AFC Fylde | 45 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 82 | 56 | 26 | 72 |
| 6. | Boreham Wood | 45 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 61 | 46 | 15 | 72 |
| 7. | Dover Athletic | 45 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 43 | 17 | 70 |
| 8. | Ebbsfleet United | 44 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 18 | 16 | 10 | 58 | 47 | 11 | 70 |
| 9. | Bromley | 44 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 73 | 53 | 20 | 69 |
| 10. | Wrexham | 45 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 49 | 39 | 10 | 69 |
| 11. | Dagenham and Redbridge | 45 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 11 | 15 | 69 | 60 | 9 | 68 |
| 12. | Maidenhead United | 44 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 59 | 64 | -5 | 58 |
| 13. | Leyton Orient | 44 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 12 | 17 | 55 | 54 | 1 | 57 |
| 14. | Gateshead | 44 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 14 | 59 | 50 | 9 | 54 |
| 15. | FC Halifax Town | 45 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 48 | 58 | -10 | 54 |
| 16. | Eastleigh | 45 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 16 | 61 | 71 | -10 | 53 |
| 17. | Hartlepool United | 45 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 51 | 62 | -11 | 53 |
| 18. | Maidstone United | 45 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 52 | 64 | -12 | 53 |
| 19. | Solihull Moors | 44 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 46 | 55 | -9 | 51 |
| 20. | Barrow | 44 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 50 | 61 | -11 | 48 |
| 21. | Woking | 45 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 23 | 54 | 74 | -20 | 48 |
| 22. | Torquay United | 44 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 23 | 41 | 68 | -27 | 41 |
| 23. | Chester | 45 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 25 | 40 | 78 | -38 | 34 |
| 24. | Guiseley | 44 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 12 | 26 | 39 | 83 | -44 | 30 |
