If Barnet are to win the Conference then today’s 2-1 win at Eastleigh could prove the turning point in a season which looked set for a pressure-free climax until recently.

With Bristol Rovers scrambling two late goals to draw at FC Halifax Town, The Bees have returned to the summit on goal difference and will now look to enhance their lead against The Shaymen on Tuesday evening.

It was nervy – at times too nervy – but Barnet displayed the right balance of style and substance to pick up a potentially season-defining victory in Hampshire.

The Bees took the lead after half an hour via Curtis Weston and added a second within a minute of the restart through John Akinde. In the 79th minute former Bee Ben Strevens converted a penalty for the home side to set up a tense final ten minutes.

Martin Allen made four changes, bringing Bondz N’Gala, Sam Muggleton, Mauro Vilhete and Sam Togwell into the side at the expense of Jack Saville, Lee Cook, Luisma Villa and Michael Gash – all of whom dropped to the bench.

The Bees set up in a 4-4-1-1 system, with Graham Stack, Andy Yiadom, David Stephens, N’Gala and Muggleton comprising the back five.

Vilhete, Togwell, Conor Clifford and Elliott Johnson were in midfield, with captain Weston pushed on in an advanced role behind Akinde.

The Bees began brightly and were almost rewarded for their positive approach when Yiadom met a Clifford corner and saw his deft header cleared off the line after just four minutes.

But just two minutes later it was the visitors who were breathing a sigh of relief after Stack flung himself full-length to his left to push away a firm header from former Bee Jack Midson.

It was an entertaining first 20 minutes with both sides creating chances.

Barnet were next to go close, Weston latching onto Akinde’s flick-on and finding enough space between Eastleigh’s centre-halves to shot low at another former Bee, goalkeeper Ross Flitney.

James Constable replied by driving a low half-volley wide of Stack’s post after Midson knocked down a diagonal ball from Dan Spence.

Just before the half-hour mark The Bees took the lead and it was a captain’s goal from stand-in skipper Weston, volleying beyond Flitney with a sizeable deflection to ease Barnet’s nerves.

Allen’s side continued to put pressure on The Spitfires and Flitney was called into action to palm a Clifford free kick over unconvincingly before Akinde nodded a deft Muggleton cross over from the resulting corner.

The half ended with Barnet in control but Richard Hill’s side – who felt referee Brian Huxtable had curried favour with the visitors – still retaining a threat.

Eager to kill off the danger posed by The Spitfires, Barnet doubled their advantage within 60 seconds of the restart.

Johnson did well to keep the ball in play as Eastleigh’s backline switched off and when he cut back for Akinde it was as good as a foregone conclusion. The Conference’s top scorer made no mistake and swept in his 29th of an unforgettable season with his left foot.

Eastleigh’s first chance of the second period came via right-back Spence, who was allowed to advance infield before letting fly with a low effort which required a sharp stop from the outstretched arm of Stack.

The home side tested the Bees’ player-coach a minute later when Michael Green saw his free-kick deflected off course only for Stack to get down and hold.

Vilhete ought to have grabbed a third on the hour but after finding enough space to meet Johnson’s in-swinging free-kick, the Portuguese could only direct his header straight at Flitney from six yards out.

The Bees were thrice denied soon after as Eastleigh got lucky.

Yiadom did well to steal in on the touchline and pulled back for Weston to slam at goal, Flitney blocking well. The ball landed at the feet of Clifford but the Dubliner’s follow-up was blocked before falling to Akinde.

Surely the Bees’ top-scorer could net? Not this time; his toe-poke kept out on the line.

Muggleton was next to try his luck, charging forward to shoot straight at Flitney after he had scuffed a clearance into the defender’s path.

Stack then had to produce a big save to preserve The Bees’ lead, sticking out a foot to block Craig Stanley’s low effort from the right.

But Barnet charged back into the Eastleigh half and Akinde looked set to reach 30 for the season when he raced through to meet Flitney one-on-one, the former Fulham stopper coming out on top.

Clifford rattled the follow-up towards the near post but again Flitney repelled the effort.

With 11 minutes to play the home side were handed the chance to halve the deficit after Muggleton’s clumsy challenge on Jai Reason resulted in a spot kick.

Former Bee Strevens stepped up and calmly tucked to Stack’s right to bring The Spitfires back into the game.

Sensing the chance to take a crucial point in their play-off push, Eastleigh laid siege on the Barnet goal.

Substitute Saville had to clear off the line after fellow replacement Craig McAllister prodded beyond the onrushing Stack. The Bees custodian recovered and was in the right place at the right time to push Constable’s shot away and secure a huge three points. 

Barnet now travel to FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night for their game in hand.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, Stephens, N'Gala, Muggleton; Vilhete, Togwell, Clifford, Johnson (Saville 81); Weston; Akinde.

Subs: Cook, Villa, Gambin, Gash.

Eastleigh: Flitney; Spence, Beckwith, Partington, Green; Strevens, Pell (Howard 69), Stanley (Walker 69); Reason; Constable, Midson (McAllister 79).

Subs: Evans, Burton.

Referee: Brian Huxtable.

Attendance: 2,034 (436 away supporters).