Barnet began 2015 by extending their lead at the summit of the Conference to nine points with a 1-0 win over Aldershot Town.

A 1-1 draw between Bristol Rovers and Torquay United ensured the Bees would not boost their lead to double figures as The Bees extended their unbeaten league run to six games.

MacDonald scored the game's only goal - and his seventh of the season - after 19 minutes with a close-range finish after a period of intense Barnet pressure.

Martin Allen made three changes for The Bees, with Keanu Marsh-Brown, Mauro Vilhete and David Stephens taking the places of Luisma Villa, Lee Cook and Jack Saville. The trio all dropped to the bench.

Wideman Marsh-Brown was making just his second league start of the season, the last coming against Lincoln City on August 16.

Graham Stack began in goal, protected by a backline of Andy Yiadom, Bondz N’Gala, David Stephens and Elliott Johnson.

In midfield, Marsh-Brown and Vilhete began out wide, with Curtis Weston and Sam Togwell continuing in the centre. John Akinde and MacDonald were paired up front once more.

After slow starts against Aldershot Town on Boxing Day and Dover Athletic on Sunday, The Bees began in the fast manor to which fans have become accustomed this term.

The lively Vilhete almost marked his return to the starting XI with a goal when he met Marsh-Brown’s corner and flicked a header over the crossbar early on.

The Shots replied through Andre McCollin, who raced onto a long ball forward from Chris Barker but could only slice his effort horribly wide on his left foot from 18 yards.

In the 19th minute Barnet took the lead with their best chance of the half. Yiadom’s right-wing cross found Akinde and his hooked effort brought an agile stop from Smith. Vilhete followed in and Smith saved again, unconvincingly this time, allowing MacDonald to stab home from point-blank range.

Vilhete almost doubled the lead three minutes later when he saw a near-post header tipped wide for a corner. The diminutive Portuguese came close from the resulting set piece but Smith held his firm header this time.

Utility man Vilhete came close yet again shortly before the break, letting fly with an ambitious effort from 25 yards which flew narrowly wide of Smith’s near post.

Marsh-Brown could have capped his first start since August with a fine goal after half an hour but found Smith in his way. A slide-rule pass from N’Gala released Marsh-Brown and the winger ghosted through the midfield before letting fly from 20 yards only for Smith to get down and block.

The Bees went in 1-0 up at half time having kept their visitors at arm’s length during the first half without enjoying total control.

There was an early let off for Barnet at the beginning of the second period, Stephens doing well to block Brett Holman’s route to goal after Togwell’s lax backpass had put Stack in trouble.

Marsh-Brown looked to have doubled Barnet’s lead shortly after the restart, but after racing onto MacDonald’s pass down the line and planting beyond Smith, saw the linesman’s flag raised for offside.

Vilhete’s ongoing duel with Shots goalkeeper Smith resumed shortly before the hour, the Barnet man collecting Akinde’s pass before swivelling, shooting and bringing a fine reflex stop out of the experienced gloveman.

Akinde, who had been marshalled well by the Aldershot defence after his Boxing Day treble, had a rare chance in the 65th minute. After powering down the right-hand edge of the penalty to manufacture a shooting angle, keeper Smith was equal to his effort.

The visitors were piling on the pressure in search of an equaliser and twice came close in quick succession; Holman and Kieron Forbes both drawing saves from the otherwise underworked Stack.

MacDonald replied for The Bees by holding off his marker to race onto Weston’s dink over the top and brought another good stop from Smith at his near post.

The Shots were a whisker away from grabbing a 90th-minute leveller when McCollin got the ball onto his left foot inside the penalty area and lashed just wide of Stack's far post.

There was still time for Vilhete to pass up the opportunity to kill off the game but Allen's side held on for all three points. 

Barnet return to action at Lincoln City on Sunday, January 3.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N’Gala, Stephens, Johnson; Marsh-Brown (Hunt 64), Togwell, Weston, Vilhete; Akinde (Cook 75), MacDonald (Saville 90).

Subs: Villa, Mensah.

Aldershot Town: Smith; Gibbs, Oastler, Barker, Roberts; Hatton, Oyeleke (Fitchett 83), Forbes; McCollin, Williams (Plummer HT), Holman.

Subs: Thomas (GK), Tonkin, Diallo.

Referee: Mark Pottage.

Attendance: 2,088 (343 away supporters).