Martin Allen said he did not care whether or not Barnet should have scored more than one in their victory over Eastleigh this afternoon, insisting the three points were all that mattered.

The Bees were the better side in the first half and scored the game’s only goal eight minutes before half-time when Sam Hoskins netted with the aid of a deflection.

After a sluggish start after the break, Barnet saw a John Akinde effort disallowed and twice hit the crossbar as they piled on the pressure in search of a second to clinch the win.

However Bees boss Allen had eyes only for the win, which means Barnet have taken seven points in as many days.

He said: “I do not really care [how many we scored] to be honest. The bottom line is the referee has blown the whistle, we have won 1-0 and we have got three points in the bag.

“Was it the best game of football you have ever seen? No. Were you bothered? No. You wake up tomorrow morning and that is three points on our total and that is the long-term aim: to get as many of those as possible.”

After conceding a late equaliser at Forest Green Rovers last weekend – before going onto the secure the points in injury time – the Bees held firm as the visiting Spitfires piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

Reflecting on a first clean sheet in three, Allen praised his side’s defensive resolve: “They all played their part in defending and restricting the opposition to very few chances.

“And when they did get through it was offside – which has come from work on the training pitch, which is good work from the defenders. Near the end there, (Graham) Stack came out for a corner and punched it 40 yards – what a relief that was.”

Allen continued: “They are all contributing and they are all playing their part. When we have to defend the 18-yard box, we see it on TV in the Premier League; what do they call it? Parking the bus. We don’t park the bus, but if we need to all defend the 18-yard box we can all get back in and everybody plays their part.

“We have not got any lightweights and we have not got anybody that won’t do the job for the team. And that is the loan signings, the subs; everybody in our squad.”

With Halifax Town losing 3-0 at home to Altrincham and Torquay beating Wrexham, the Bees are now five points clear at the top of the table.

However, in keeping with the rest of the season, Allen refused to get carried away with the position Barnet find themselves in.

He said: “Are we five points clear? I had no idea we were five points clear, but I suppose that is pretty good.

“There is a long way to go. I am sure all our supporters were relieved to get that win. I am sure all our supporters – just the like the players – when they leave the stadium tonight, to see that we are five points clear will be happy.

“But I have just told the players that there are going to be changes for Tuesday night and they had better get ready to play because different players are going to come in and play and we need to freshen it up again, because we need a high-energy performance away at Macclesfield (Tuesday).”