Skipper Charlie MacDonald lauded the bouncebackability of his team-mates following Barnet’s 1-0 win over Nuneaton Town this afternoon, claiming he was enjoying being involved in an intriguing promotion battle rather than feeling under pressure.

The Bees’ slender victory over struggling Nuneaton – sealed thanks to John Akinde’s 30th league goal of the season – ensured Martin Allen’s side leapfrogged Bristol Rovers to go top of the Conference once more and build a one-point barrier in the process.

It was a nervy finish to the game and although Graham Stack was once again underworked between the sticks, Alfreton Town’s injury-time equaliser a week earlier was still fresh in the minds of players and supporters alike.

Speaking afterwards, MacDonald heaped praise on the side as they put the disappointment of dropping two points a week earlier behind them.

He said: “I have said it all the time in my programme notes. The bouncebackability we have got at this club [is great].

“Every time we do have a setback we have always come back and managed to get the right result to get us back in the momentum.”

Barnet had boasted an 11-point lead atop the division earlier in the season before consecutive defeats at Lincoln City and Grimsby Town and further losses at Wrexham and against Grimsby saw Bristol Rovers overhaul the Bees.

However, they are now back on top and five games unbeaten. With four matches to play, MacDonald prefers to accentuate the positives rather than dwell on the pressures of the title race.

“People talk about pressure but I see it more as excitement,” he stated. “You would rather be up there than scrapping for your lives down the bottom trying to survive.

“We are a good group of lads and there is great ability in the squad. We have been up there all season and won more games than anybody else.

“There is so much confidence in the dressing room. We are there to be shot at and we have to deal with it. We have been solid at the back and we did not really look like conceding – as we did last week.”

MacDonald added: “At this stage of the season it is all about results. The performance was not great but it is the sign of a good team when you are not at your best that you can pick up three points.

“That is the sort of result you want at this stage of the season. No matter how you get the job done, as long as you get it done, the most important thing is the three points.”

The former MK Dons and Brentford forward almost marked his return following four games out by scoring the opener but could only hit the inside of goalkeeper Max Crocombe’s post when played in by Mauro Vilhete.

Reflecting on the miss, MacDonald mused: “I felt I did everything right. It was a great ball from Denzil (David Stephens) into Lui (Luisma Villa) and Mauro (Vilhete) committed the defender and slipped it into me.

“I tried to give the keeper the eyes and I think he went for the one across his body so I tried to slip it in at the near post but I was a bit disappointed really. I think big John (Akinde) was saying if he expected the rebound then he would have gobbled that up but it was not to be that time and thankfully it never cost us.”

You can read Martin Allen’s thoughts on Barnet’s victory over Nuneaton by clicking here.