Barnet beat Woking 2-1 to maintain their seven-point lead atop the Conference but were made to work hard for all three points.

The win is Barnet's first against the Surrey side since 2002, with eight of the last nine meetings ending in draws.

After a low-quality first half the Bees took control of proceedings after the break and appeared to be on-course for three points but were made to sweat after substitute Yemi Odubade halved the deficit with 11 minutes left to play.

John Akinde scored from the penalty spot to open the scoring; netting his 26th of the season in all competitions after Cards defender Joe McNerney had been sent off for a professional foul.

Five minutes into the second period Barnet doubled up, Joey Jones scoring a comedic own goal. But in the 79th minute Woking got one back, Odubade blasting through the Bees’ defence and slamming home emphatically.

Martin Allen made one change to the side which beat Southport 4-0 last time out, with Elliott Johnson returning to the starting XI in place of Mauro Vilhete following injury.

New loan signing Conor Clifford was only named amongst the substitutes having not featured for parent club Southend United since the end of November.

Graham Stack began in goal, protected by a back four of Andy Yiadom, Bondz N’Gala and Johnson. David Stephens came through a late fitness test to take a place on the bench.

Luisma Villa, Curtis Weston, Sam Togwell and Lee Cook comprised the midfield, with Akinde and Charlie MacDonald paired in attack.

Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball during a low-quality first half, with an Akinde daisy-cutter and a speculative half-volley from Woking’s Scott Rendell the only opportunities in an instantly-forgettable opening 20 minutes.

However, the contest livened up in the 25th minute when Akinde bustled into the penalty area before being felled by Woking defender McNerney.

After a lengthy delay the centre-back was given his marching orders as the last defender. Woking supporters, aggrieved by Robert Whitton’s decision to dismiss McNerney, surged to the front of the North Terrace and hung over the barrier to tug on goalkeeper Jake Cole’s net.

Facing an intimidating travelling support and with the goal net shaking violently, Akinde showed a cool head and easily dispatched the kick, rolling to Cole’s left as the former Bees keeper dove in the opposite direction.

Five minutes before the break Luisma was replaced by Clifford, who was handed his debut as the Spanish midfielder – who had failed to make any impression on the game – was hauled after picking up a needless booking.

The half closed with Saville rising highest to flick a header wide from Cook’s left-wing free-kick.

Within five minutes of the restart Barnet were 2-0 up in fortuitous circumstances. Woking defender Jones passed the ball back to goalkeeper Cole but the former Bees custodian slipped, allowing the ball to trickle past him, hit the post and roll in.

The visitors had a rare opportunity five minutes later when midfielder Josh Payne fired in a low effort which needed turning around the post by the under-worked Stack.

Chances were still at a premium but Weston came close when he met a bobbling ball on the edge of the area and flashed narrowly wide of Cole’s right-hand post.

Substitute Michael Gash almost latched onto an Akinde through ball seconds later before Clifford side-footed wide from a central position after a good setup.

Barnet continued to dominate proceedings, with Weston letting fly from 25 yards only for Cole to beat the ball away as it flew towards the top corner.

Akinde was next to go close, driving into the penalty area but only succeeding in slashing wide of the top corner with his left foot.

With 11 minutes remaining and completely against the run of play, Woking halved the deficit. The experienced Odubade found space to run between Saville and N’Gala, piercing the Barnet backline before coolly finishing beyond Stack.

And the Cards should have levelled when a ball over the top found the suspiciously-offside looking Yemi Odubade, who snatched at the chance and dragged his shot wide of Stack’s far post.

Despite having one less player Garry Hill's side were asking the questions of the league leaders.

There was still time for one more Woking chance, Payne crashing a half-volley narrowly over Stack’s crossbar, with the player-coach requiring treatment after flinging himself toward goal to cover the strike.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, N’Gala, Saville, Johnson; Luisma (Clifford 40), Weston, Togwell, Cook (Stephens 90); Akinde, MacDonald (Gash 67).

Subs: Muggleton, Gambin.

Woking: Cole, Newton, McNerney, Thomas, Arthur; Ricketts (Goddard 61); Jones, Payne, Banya (Odubade 61); Rendell, Lafayette (Betsy 35).

Subs: Little (GK), Murtagh.

Referee: Robert Whitton.

Attendance: 2,036 (535 away supporters).