Barnet moved to within two wins of the Conference title on Saturday and afterwards Allen accused the side which failed to secure promotion last season as being overweight, embarrassing and having eaten the whole of Pizza Hut.

A 4-0 loss at the hands of FC Halifax Town last April saw Barnet’s aspirations of a top-five finish all but ended. On Saturday, exactly 12 months after the “humiliating” display, the Bees exacted revenge in ruthless fashion, winning 3-0 in a performance head coach Allen described as their best in a while.

It means the Bees can claim the Conference title at Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday if they win and second-placed Bristol Rovers lose at Dover Athletic, currently eighth.

However, speaking after the victory against Neil Aspin’s side, Allen outlined the differences between the Barnet side humbled in their bid to win promotion back to the Football League last season and the current group.

He said: “This lot have got guts. This lot have got [a] hard work ethic. Half of that team last year, they used to roll about on the treatment tables before the game about two stone overweight, picking up money – embarrassing, embarrassing.

“Someone said they had eaten too much pizza. It was not a question of eating too much pizza, it was eating Pizza Hut – the shop, not the actual pizza. They were that fat, out of shape and unfit and now they are quite the opposite.

“They are slim, trim and ready to do anything they need to do for their team.”

The Bees boss continued: “I decided in the middle of the week we had to get a very competitive team out that could also play football because Neil’s team came here last year and beat us 4-0.

“I think I have been scarred by that day, the way people just buckled, turned their backs and could not be bothered to defend in the second half.

“I knew from standing here this time last year I needed to make massive changes. I suppose from a year ago to where we are now, it is just completely different. The work ethic, on and off the field, of everybody is [excellent], you can see it for yourselves.

“You can’t be top of the league for almost the whole season with a load of pants players,” he concluded.