John Akinde grabbed his second hat-trick of the season as Barnet beat AFC Telford United 3-1 to extend the Bees' lead at the summit to eight points. 

Akinde gave Barnet the lead after exactly 60 seconds before doubling up in the 18th minute from the spot. The beefy striker then completed his treble in the 83rd minute when he converted a second penalty to net for the 16th time this season. 

Telford had got one back in the first half through Sean Cooke, but the visitors failed to make the most of their best period.

Martin Allen handed Bernard Mensah his first Barnet start as one of four changes for the Bees. The Watford loanee replaced Charlie MacDonald, who was rested after playing 135 minutes in a week following a lengthy injury lay-off.

Jack Saville, Lee Cook and Luisma Villa all came into the side, with Bondz N'Gala, Luke Gambin and Adam Mekki dropping to the bench.

It was the first match Saville had started since defeat at Macclesfield Town, whilst N’Gala missed his first league game of the season having been an ever-present.

The versatile Vilhete began at right-back, with David Hunt pushed into midfield and Elliott Johnson returning to his familiar left-back role.

Graham Stack was in goal, with Vilhete, David Stephens, Jack Saville and Johnson protecting his goal. In midfield, Luisma, Curtis Weston, Hunt and Cook were supplying the ammunition for Akinde and Mensah.

After the disappointment of back-to-back defeats at The Hive, Barnet made the perfect start when they took the lead after just one minute.

Hunt – pushed into midfield after an underwhelming display at right-back on Tuesday – won the ball on the edge of the area and worked it wide for Cook to cross. The winger’s delivery was pin-point and left Akinde with the simple task of stretching out a leg at the near post to guide the ball home.

Cook and Luisma both saw efforts go narrowly wide of Telford goalkeeper Freddie Hall’s right-hand post within five minutes of each other as Barnet kept up the pressure on the strugglers.

Akinde doubled up in the 18th minute by winning and converting a penalty. The big forward has made a habit of drawing ill-advised contact from goalkeepers this season and did so once again, forcing Hall to go for the ball even as he dribbled away from goal.

The linesman on the near side awarded the spot kick and Akinde made minimal fuss of sending Hall the wrong way to put the Bees 2-0 ahead.

Visitors Telford registered their first chance of note in the 28th minute. Striker Adam Farrell carried the ball across the field and crossed for Ryan Higgins at the back post, who saw his diving header pushed away by the alert Stack.

Akinde almost completed a first-half hat-trick when he used his sizeable physique to out-muscle and then spin past his marker before drilling wide.

Seconds after Akinde missed the chance for a second hat-trick of the season, Telford halved the deficit. Bucks winger Cooke instinctively rapped a powerful half-volley beyond Stack to get his side back in the contest.

Buoyed by their goal, the Bucks ended the first period by enjoying their best spell of the game but could not force an equaliser before the whistle.

Cook looked to have extended Barnet’s advantage after three second-half minutes but saw his curler hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down and out.

The Bucks had begun the second period as they ended the first and Sam Smith was only denied an equaliser on the turn by a low stop from Stack.

Barnet responded through Stephens, who crashed a header over the bar from point-blank range before Mensah fizzed a volley narrowly over, minutes before being replaced by MacDonald.

With 22 minutes remaining, the Bucks’ miserable luck with injuries continued as defender Neill Byrne was stretchered off with his leg in a brace.

Substitute MacDonald came close to scoring his first since returning from injury, but Telford keeper Hall got down sharply to smother the striker’s effort.

With seven minutes remaining Akinde completed his hat-trick to seal the points. MacDonald was brought down carelessly by Andrew Parry, leaving referee Daniel Cook with little choice but to award a second spot kick.

Akinde again sent Hall to wrong way to complete his second hat-trick of the season and secure the all-important three points.

With Grimsby Town pegged back to draw at Altrincham and Gateshead beaten 1-0 at Chester, Barnet see their lead at the top of the Conference stretched to eight points. 

Barnet: Stack; Vilhete, Stephens, Saville, Johnson; Luisma (Mekki 85), Weston (c), Hunt, Cook (Gambin 80); Akinde, Mensah (MacDonald 60).

Subs: N'Gala, Nurse.

Telford United: Hall; Higgins, Byrne (Brownhill 68), Parry, McDonald; Poku, Ledsham, Todd (Barnett 83); Farrell (Gray 83), Smith, Cooke.

Subs: Hedge (GK), Hancock.

Referee: Mr Daniel Cook.

Attendance: 1,671 (81 away supporters).