Goals from Mauro Vilhete and John Akinde saw nine-man Barnet re-open a nine-point gap at the top of the Conference by winning 2-1 at Torquay United.

The Bees finished two short after substitute Jon Nurse limped off following a stiff challenge and with all three changes made, whilst Bondz N’Gala was dismissed after half an hour.

Barnet took the lead after 15 minutes when Mauro Vilhete opened his account for the season and the numbers were levelled when Aaron Downes was given his marching orders for bringing down Akinde in the penalty area. Akinde then converted the spot kick for his 18th of the season to put Bees 2-0 up at the break.

Torquay ensured a jittery final few minutes when Courtney Richards netted in injury time, but the Bees held out to ensure they would extend their lead atop the Conference ahead of next Saturday’s FA Trophy tie at Concord Rangers.

Martin Allen made just one change for the trip to Devon, with Vilhete taking the place of Luisma Villa on the right-hand side of midfield.

David Stephens was on the bench once more, with Jack Saville preferred at the heart of defence. On the bench, player-coach Jon Nurse stepped up to take the place of West Ham United loanee Raphael Spiegel.

Graham Stack started in goal, with a back four of Andy Yiadom, N’Gala, Saville and Johnson in front of him. Vilhete, Curtis Weston, Sam Togwell and Lee Cook comprised the midfield, with Akinde and Charlie MacDonald up top.

Kick off was delayed after referee Brett Huxtable noticed a potential kit clash between Barnet's black and amber and the orange jersey of Torquay goalkeeper Martin Rice, who was forced to change into a green alternative as a result.

When the game did get underway, it was Torquay who had the first chance, Ryan Bowman lobbing the ball over N'Gala before drawing a good stop from Stack with a volley.

But after 15 minutes the Bees took the lead through Vilhete. Akinde picked out the run of the Portuguese, who stepped inside defender Downes before curling beyond Rice and into the top corner in fine style.

Gulls keeper Rice was booked after 25 minutes when he raced off his line only to bring down the advancing Akinde. Covering defender Krystian Peare's presence ensured the former Exeter City gloveman did not see red.

And six minutes later, Barnet were reduced to ten when N'Gala saw red for bringing down Bowman as the last man.

Allen reacted by bringing Stephens on in place of MacDonald and switching to a 4-4-1, whilst Torquay skipper Luke Young fired over from the resulting free kick.

Torquay did not hold the numerical advanage for long though, and five minutes before the break, Downes followed N'Gala in being sent for an early bath after felling Akinde inside the 18 yard box.

The beefy striker dusted himself down and took responsibility for the resulting spot kick, dispatching beyond Rice to double Barnet's lead.

Chris Hargreaves responded by introducing Angus MacDonald in place of striker Louis Briscoe, who scored twice against the Bees in victory at The Hive in November. 

The Yellows set about searching for a route back into the game after the break but were frustrated as Barnet held firm. And shortly before the hour, Oxford United loanee David Hunt replaced Cook as Allen looked to hold onto the 2-0 lead.

A rare chance saw vice-captain Weston hit the woodwork for the Bees with a powerful effort following Akinde's clever flick-on into his path.

Player-coach Nurse briefly entered the fray as a the lone striker before a poor challenge from Gulls substitute MacDonald forced the Barbados international to hobble off, leaving Barnet with just nine men for the final minutes.

Into the four minutes of injury time, Torquay got one back back when Richards crashed a shot in off the underside of the bar from outside the penalty area. But Allen's side held firm and claimed their eighth away win of the season.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N'Gala, Saville, Johnson; Vilhete, Weston, Togwell, Cook (Hunt 58); Akinde (Nurse 69), MacDonald (Stephens 33).

Subs: Gambin, Mensah.

Torquay United: Rice; Berry, Downes, Pearce, Ives; Chappell, Young, Richards, Ajala; Briscoe (MacDonald 44), Bowman (Ofori-Acheampong 49).

Subs: Seabright (GK), Yeoman, McQuilkin.

Referee: Brett Huxtable.

Attendance: 1,933 (115 away supporters).