What a difference a week makes. Seven days ago Barnet were holding firm in the face of an onslaught to beat Eastleigh. Fast forward a week and the Bees are top of the pile having taken seven points from nine.

A 5-0 win over a poor Welling United side will not live long in the memory but with Bristol Rovers returning to the summit on Friday evening thanks to a 3-1 win over Aldershot Town, the Bees knew what was required prior to kick off.

It was Barnet’s first home win in three and aside from one presentable opportunity for former Bee, Kieron St Aimie, Welling offered next to no threat as Barnet delivered exactly what was needed in style.

Mauro Vilhete scored his second of the season to put Barnet in front after 17 minutes. Akinde then doubled up six minutes later before hitting his 31st goal in competitions from the penalty spot before half time with Chris Bush sent off for his troubles.

The league’s top-scorer will equal Gary Bull’s 30 league goals scored during the 1990/91 Conference-winning season with one more this season – a feat he seems destined to match if not shatter.

The impressive Gash added a fourth after 60 minutes, capping a fine display alongside Akinde. Luisma Villa got in on the act with nine minutes remaining, rubbing salt in Welling’s gaping wounds.

Martin Allen made three changes, bringing Jack Saville, Lee Cook and Gash into the side in place of the suspended David Stephens, Sam Muggleton and Conor Clifford.

Barnet started brightly but were struggling to work Welling United goalkeeper Jon Henly. That was until the 15th minute when the Reading loanee was required to make a brilliant double stop to prevent the Bees going in front.

With Luisma only on the bench, Cook took his opportunity from a free-kick but saw his low left-footed effort beaten away by Henly at his near post. From the follow-up Andy Yiadom came within a whisker of netting but saw his effort repelled by Henly.

The pressure continued to build, with the Bees winning a string of corners and free-kicks. Yet it was open play that the first goal arrived after 17 minutes.

Vilhete breezed into the penalty area from the right and with the angle seemingly diminishing, the Lisbon-born utility blasted beyond Henly into the roof of the net from an acute angle.

Six minutes later a second followed. One of the criticisms of Barnet in recent weeks has been their direct style but it worked a treat on this occasion.

Graham Stack’s long clearance was well flicked on perfectly by Gash and anticipating the touch of his strike partner, Akinde nipped in behind, raced on and nudged past the onrushing Henly.

Barnet were in total control and it was little surprise when a third arrived five minutes before half time.

Akinde started the move by picking out the run of Cook on the left. The winger crossed low and with Gash poised to turn home, Bush intervened and was rightly dismissed for barging the big forward to the floor.

As sure as night follows day, Akinde stroked the spot kick down the middle, beating Henly with ease. The Bees have now won 17 penalties this season – scoring 15 of them – with Akinde converting 11.

Chances had been at a premium at the beginning of the second period but on the hour mark, Gash got the goal his all-round performance had undoubtedly merited.

The big forward did well to bring a high ball under control and out-muscle his marker before stabbing beyond Henly at the near post to make it 4-0.

With the game wrapped up, Allen elected to give Weston and Akinde a rest, bringing on Clifford and Luisma in their place.

And it was Luisma who grabbed the fifth, firing home with the aid of a sizeable deflecting which wrong-footed goalkeeper Henly eight minutes from the end.

It was a training exercise from there on out; another game ticked off.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N'Gala, Saville, Johnson; Vilhete (Gambin 74), Togwell, Weston (Clifford 64), Cook; Akinde (Luisma 64), Gash.

Subs: Muggleton, Nurse.

Welling United: Henly; B.Williams, Berry, Chambers, Bush; Vose, Gallagher (Fagan 83), Corne; St Aimie, J.Williams (Taylor HT), Harris (Young 77) Subs: McEntegart (GK), Bassele.

Referee: Daniel Cook.

Attendance: 1,700 (139 away supporters).