Martin Allen says he “wasn’t happy” at half-time of Barnet’s 5-0 win over Chester – despite the Bees being three nil ahead – and has stressed the big win is still only worth three points.

The Bees were ahead after four minutes when Andy Yiadom slotted home the first goal of the new Conference season before Chester midfielder Danny Harrison was dismissed for a two-footed challenge.

Lee Cook then doubled Barnet’s advantage before captain Charlie MacDonald smashed home a penalty.

Steve Burr’s side could have pulled one back on the stroke of half-time when John Rooney won a penalty for handball against Mauro Vilhete but Graham Stack denied the Blues forward from 12 yards.

After the break, Cook and substitute Keanu Marsh-Brown put the gloss on a convincing win for the Bees.

Speaking afterwards, Allen said: “I wasn’t happy [at half-time]. We needed to do more; we didn’t keep the ball well enough when we were winning 3-0, we weren’t playing it quick enough and simple enough.

“When you’re playing against ten men you need to keep possession and keep moving the ball to wear the opposition down and that’s what we did second half and that’s why those extra goals came.

“We got a bit sloppy when it was 3-0 and I think it’s fair to say I went in and had a moan at half-time,” he added.

The win leaves Allen’s side top of the Conference after the opening weekend but the Bees head coach was quick to downplay an encouraging start to the new season.

He said: “I suppose it’s nice for the supporters but we’ve already started work now for next Tuesday.

“You’ve also got to throw into it today we only got here 35 minutes before the kick-off. We were stuck on the bus for almost five hours because of a crash on the motorway, so the attitude and the spirit – they didn’t moan, they didn’t complain [was good].

“We’ve got two games this week against Bristol Rovers and Lincoln City to come and now we’ve got to make the next step. You only get three points for this win today; you don’t get any more than that. Now we have to take it to the next game.”

Allen was also quick to recognise Rooney’s missed penalty as a potential turning point in the game, with the forward’s miss coming in injury time of the first period.

Explained Allen: “To go in 3-0 up or 3-1 up is totally different but what Graham [Stack] had to do today was very little, but he did do, he did very well.

“Since I’ve been here he’s been fantastic, on and off the field. He’s been a real model character, professional and I’m lucky to have him as our goalkeeper and as our coach.”