Barnet manager, Martin Allen made three changes from the team that won at Nuneaton on Saturday. Jack Saville replaced Elliott Johnson and Luisma Villa replaced Mauro Vilhete, both presumably unfit. Adam Mekki made his first appearance for the bees n pace of Lee Cook, who was on the bench, one suspects being rested. Former Bee, Harry Crawford who was released by Allen in the summer, was on the Dartford bench.
Early on, a Charlie MacDonald effort was cleared off the goal line but after that Barnet struggled against a Dartford side that were clearly playing for a point. The Darts had not yet won this season and only scored two goals. The first half was a frustrating affair for Bees’ fans though John akinde went very close just before the half four when he turned brilliantly before sliding his shot just wide of the post.
However, a couple of minutes before half time, John AKINDE put the home team ahead wth a rather scrappy goal following a Luisma corner.
HT: Bees 1 Darts 0
Martin Allen brought Lee Cook on for Adam Mekki for the second half and three minutes later, COOK hit a superb perfectly into the bottom right hand corner after Akinde had set him up o the edge of the penalty area.
On 51 minutes, Elliott Bradbrook nearly pulled one back for the Darts with a tremendous header from a corner, but Graham Stack saved from point blank range. Just before the hour mark, COOK grabbed his second and Barnet’s third with another pin point shot into the same corner of the net as his first after a superb move involving Akinde and Luisma Villa. MacDonald was substituted right after the third goal with Keanu Marsh-Brown replacing him.
Barnet were completely in control by now and four minutes from the end, the Bees were awarded a penalty after Luke Gambin, who had replaced Luisma, was brought down in the box following a surging run. Lee COOK completed his hat trick, comfortably hitting the spot kick past Brown, the Darts’ keeper. Gambin, as against Lincoln, was hugely impressive after coming on as a second half substitute. Barnet ran out 4-0 winners to make it four wins out of five and 12 points out of 15. Today’s victory saw the Bees climb to 2nd in the table behind leaders AFC Halifax.
FT: Bees 4 Darts 0
Barnet Mad Man of the Match: Lee Cook
Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N’Gala, Stephens, Saville; Weston, Togwell, Luisma Villa (Gambin 68), Mekki (Cook 46); Akinde, MacDonald (Marsh-Brown 60).
Subs not used: Muggleton, Nurse.
Att: 1605