Barnet crossed into Dartford long enough to build a - albeit temporary - four-point lead  at the summit with a 1-0 win and equally importantly, cross another game off. 

With three to play the Bees are four clear of second-placed Bristol Rovers, who kick off at Kidderminster Harriers at 3pm today.

For Dartford, defeat will spell the end of their three-season stay in the Conference, with relegation confirmed if Alfreton Town take anything from their tussle with Grimsby Town.

Curtis Weston’s first-half strike was enough to add three points to the Barnet total, the midfielder scoring for the fourth consecutive away game to leave Barnet in pole position after the Easter schedule.

There were four changes from the side which beat Nuneaton Town 1-0 on Saturday, with Sam Muggleton, Lee Cook, Conor Clifford and Michael Gash coming into the side.

Charlie MacDonald missed out as a precautionary measure after feeling a reaction in his knee against Boro, whilst Andy Yiadom took a knock in training and did not travel to Kent.

Luisma Villa was only named as a substitute after playing 90 minutes at the weekend; Clifford took the place of Togwell as Allen opted for fresh legs in the centre of midfield.

With so much riding on the game for the Darts and Barnet desperately in need of three points to hold onto top spot in the Conference, it was a breathless Bank Holiday encounter at Princes Park.

And Barnet could have been in front after just two minutes when a Muggleton throw was cleverly hoisted back into the penalty area by Clifford and met by John Akinde, whose header was brilliantly palmed over by goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim.

Dartford carved out their best chance ten minutes later, twice coming within a lick of paint of opening the scoring.

Winger Ryan Hayes cut in from the right and curled a seemingly net-bound left-footed effort towards the far corner of Graham Stack’s goal only to see the ball bounce off of both posts and away to safety.

The visitors charged back into Dartford’s half and another Muggleton chuck into the penalty area was sent agonizingly wide by a diving header from the marauding Bondz N’Gala.

And the Bees came closer still after 20 minutes as Clifford walloped a rasping half-volley against Ibrahim’s crossbar from the edge of the penalty area after Muggleton’s latest howitzer fell at his feet.

After half-an-hour Barnet made the breakthrough and in keeping with much of the first half, it was a goal borne out of direct play.

Stack’s long free-kick was knocked down invitingly by Akinde for Weston, who charged in to stuff the ball into the roof of the Dartford net from 18 yards.

The home side retaliated shortly after when Hayes lofted a dangerous ball to the back stick for Danny Harris but he could only stab wide with the aid of a deflection.

From the resulting corner Barnet broke, Gash leading the charge, but after he offloaded the ball to Cook the move broke down in the home side’s penalty area.

The remaining ten minutes of the half passed without incident but after what had gone before there could be no complaint of a lack of entertainment value.

Barnet started the second period brightly and were camped in the Dartford third for much of the first 15 minutes without managing to get in behind.

Akinde did on one occasion after turning his marker brilliantly but could not get the shot off as he ran out of space.

Chances proved to a be at a premium in the second period but the arrival of substitute Luke Gambin injected some much-needed pace into the game.

And the impish winger almost added a second when he darted into the penalty area and unleashed a near-post shot which was pushed away for a corner by Ibrahim.

Another chance went begging when Gambin put in a delicious cross to the back post for Akinde but the big forward could not get the all-important touch at the far post.

The Bees saw out the game with minimal fuss and having played before their title rivals for once, all attention now turns to what Bristol Rovers and Grimsby Town do in reply.

Barnet: Stack; Vilhete, N'Gala, Stephens, Muggleton (Togwell 58); Cook (Gambin 71), Weston, Clifford, Johnson; Akinde, Gash.

Subs: Saville, Nurse, Villa.

Dartford: Ibrahim; Driver (Adams 78), McAuley, Collier, Richards; Hayes, Noble, Dallison, Harris (T.Bradbrook 78); Crawford, Chiedozie (Pugh 50).

Subs: Daley, Kessell (GK).

Referee: David Rock.

Attendance: 1,579.