Shaun Batt gave Barnet fans a glimpse of what they hope he will provide this season after netting his first goal for the Bees in a 33-minute cameo.

The former Leyton Orient man scored the equaliser in a 3-2 win at National League South side St Albans City but saw his night ended prematurely when he left the field with 12 minutes remaining - an arrangement Martin Allen later claimed had always been in place.

It had been a lively debut from the pacy forward, who started on the left-hand side after being introduced at half time before moving up front on the hour mark to partner Under-18 goal machine Matt Stevens.

Gash had headed Barnet in front with ten minutes on the clock but goals from Saints strike duo Simon Thomas and Michael Malcolm turned the game on its head before half time.

After the break Batt levelled with his first goal for the club before Jack Taylor crashed home from distance to put Martin Allen’s side back in front.

Conor Clifford made his first start of pre-season as Allen named a youthful side which included no fewer than five members of last season’s title-winning Under-18 side.

Summer signings Bira Dembele and Kevin Lisbie were both handed starts, whilst Luke Gambin and Mauro Vilhete began on the flanks.

Gash partnered Lisbie up front, whilst Sam Muggleton was at left-back.

The Bees went in front with their first attack of note, Gash rising highest in a crowded penalty area to nod home a long Muggleton throw-in with relative ease.

St Albans immediately went in search of an equaliser and almost found one when Luke Allen drew a good low stop from Kai McKenzie-Lyle.

And ten minutes later the home side registered their first goal of pre-season at the fourth attempt. Thomas linked up well with strike partner Malcolm and shot low beyond McKenzie-Lyle to level.

The Barnet keeper had to be alert soon after to make an agile double stop, first flinging himself full-length to palm away Thomas’ header before pushing Luke Allen’s fierce drive over the crossbar for a corner.

But in the 34th minute City took the lead when the lively Allen cut back for Malcolm to sweep low into the far bottom corner of the Barnet net from just inside the penalty area.

St Albans ought to have grabbed a third just four minutes later but after McKenzie-Lyle had repelled Lewis Hilliard’s cross-cum-shot, Thomas somehow contrived to shoot straight at the tall stopper from a matter of yards out.

The Saints had the first chance of the second period, substitutes Danny Green and Steve Wales combining for the latter to lash wide from 30 yards.

Barnet attempted to hit back immediately, Lisbie seeing his shot on the turn blocked for a corner.

New signing Batt was handed a debut from the bench for the second half and starting down the left, the former Leyton Orient man looked lively from the outset, cutting inside after ten minutes and testing Jones with a firm drive which the Saints stopper held.

But the Bees new-boy did not have to wait long for his first goal in black and amber, linking with Jack Taylor before curling into the top corner after receiving the return pass in the 66th minute.

And it was Taylor – the youngest Barnet player on the field – who completed the turnaround just three minutes later in stunning fashion, lashing home with a dipping effort from 25 yards.

Jimmy Gray and Graham Golds’ men still retained a threat and might have stolen an equaliser at the death when substitute Kieran Bishop cut inside from the left and drew a fine stop from Chris Haigh down to his right.

The Bees cleared the subsequent corner with the last action of the game. A trip to Maidenhead United awaits on Saturday.

Barnet: McKenzie-Lyle (Haigh 61); H. Taylor (Nwogu 61), Gater (Odofin HT), Dembele (Kennedy 61), Muggleton (Roache HT); Vilhete (Gondoh 61), Clifford (Shomotun HT), Fonguck (Batt HT (Kyei 78)), Gambin (J.Taylor 61); Lisbie (Cojocarel 61), Gash (Stevens 61).

St Albans City: Jones; Kyriacou, Comley, Locke, Chappell; Allen, Beckles, Corcoran, Hilliard; Malcom, Thomas.

St Albans City second half: Jones; Richens, Longe-King, Lampe, Bola; Wales, Green, Bishop, Hall; Medlock, Young.

Referee: Mick Russell.

Attendance: