Barnet are five points from safety with five games remaining after crashing to a 4-1 defeat at Stevenage.

Once the home side scored in the 44th minute their opponents collapsed, conceding three more times in the second half and allowing their rivals to cruise to an all-too convincing victory.

The Bees did take some momentum into the game from their encouraging 2-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at the Hive on Friday, but once they had conceded they rarely showed the necessary resilience and ability to trouble Stevenage.

New Barnet boss Martin Allen surprised many by selecting midfielder Ryan Watson at right-back and giving Joe Payne his league debut on his 18th birthday. Allen picked an attacking team, finding room in the starting line-up for four forwards - Alex Nicholls, Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Shaq Coulthirst and John Akinde.

Barnet’s large travelling following saw their side take the initiative in the early stages, putting the home side under pressure and forcing a number of corners.

But although a Watson corner hit the crossbar in the eighth minute, the Bees were finding it difficult to trouble Tom King in the Stevenage goal.

Midway through the half Akpa Akpro surged from midfield but his shot from the edge of the penalty area was wayward.

After a bright start the Bees were on the back foot with their hosts looking the most likely to score first.

The deadlock was duly broken a minute before the interval. From a Craig Ross clearance that lacked distance, the home side put together a neat move down the right flank and from Ben Kennedy’s fine delivery to the far post Danny Newton headed home.

Prior to the kick-off for the second half, Allen attempted to rally the Barnet supporters to back their team. And in the frantic early moments a Curtis Weston shot went close as the Bees sought a leveller and the home side pushed to extend their advantage.

Two goals within five minutes just after the hour mark sealed Barnet’s fate.

Newton was allowed to hit a thunderous shot from 25 yards to put his side two goals up.

Payne then gave away possession unnecessarily which allowed Alex Revell in on goal with the striker making no mistake.

With the game seemingly beyond Barnet’s reach, Coulthirst’s low left-footed strike from 20 yards in the 82nd minute gave the visitors the slightest glimmer of hope.

Stevenage cruelly and quickly extinguished any such thoughts five minutes later when the Barnet rearguard was once again exposed, with Newton unselfishly setting up Revell to have the simple task of converting from close range.

Barnet: Ross, Watson, Santos, Nelson (J.Taylor 63), Payne (Tutonda 68), Nicholls (Akinola 51), Weston, Sweeney, Akpa Akpro, Akinde, Coulthirst. Subs not used: Brindley, Clough, Shomotun, McKenzie-Lyle.