Martin Allen’s bold tactical switch paid off as Michael Gash scored twice to inspire Barnet to a 3-1 win over dismal Dagenham & Redbridge.

After switching to a 4-3-3 system to overcome Stevenage at The Hive seven days earlier, Allen opted to start in the same formation for the visit of the Daggers.

And that decision paid dividends as Gash – scorer of the winner against Teddy Sheringham’s side last Saturday – continued his hot streak with a well-taken brace either side of Andy Yiadom’s stunning 20 yard strike.

Substitute Jodi Jones pulled one back for the visitors but it failed to spark a comeback.

Allen made three changes with Oxford Untied Max Crocombe preferred in goal to Jamie Stephens, who completed his one-match suspension last weekend.

Gash was partnered up front by Aaron McLean and John Akinde in one of three changes to the starting XI.

In midfield, Sam Togwell, Curtis Weston and Luke Gambin made up the three as Yiadom dropped into right-back in place of Gavin Hoyte, who was named amongst the substitutes.

Bira Dembele was missing, meaning a first league start for summer signing Michael Nelson.

On the bench there were places for youngsters Fumnaya Shomotun and Hakeem Odoffin. Matt Stevens missed out after scoring in a 4-0 win against Southend United for the Under-18s earlier in the afternoon, though.

Barnet’s best first half performance of the season started with the Bees storming into the lead with exactly one minute on the clock.

Allen’s side might even have gone in front sooner than that had McLean made better contact with Gambin’s cut-back from the left.

It mattered not, though, as Gash opened the scoring with 60 seconds on the clock by shooting low past former Barnet keeper Liam O’Brien at the near post.

After such an explosive start it was little surprise the tempo dropped and although chances were scarce, the Bees were never out of control.

The only change the visitors created saw Ayo Obileye head towards the bottom corner before Nelson stretched out a leg to clear off the line.

And within four minutes that miss became even more costly as Yiadom scored his third of an increasingly prolific season.

Despite starting at full-back his attacking instincts were far from quelled and after receiving the ball from Togwell, he played a one-two with Akinde before curling a sumptuous left-footed effort into the far bottom corner from 20 yards.

Yiadom almost repeated the trick within a minute, bending just wide of the far post with O’Brien again beaten.

Dagenham boss Wayne Burnett’s response to his side’s poor first half showing was to introduce Zavon Hines and Jones in place of Nicholas Hamalainen and Ashley Hemmings.

The next goal was always going to prove crucial and the Daggers set out with renewed vigour to try to halve the deficit.

Substitute Jones tested Crocombe within six minutes of the restart with a ferocious drive which bounced off the New Zealander’s chest and was eventually scrambled away for a corner.

But just before the hour mark Gash killed the game off for the Bees with his second of the afternoon and third in two home games.

Akinde won a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and McLean’s blast off the wall fell perfectly for Gash to rifle home from six yards to give the Bees a 3-0 lead.

It could have been four in the 64th minute as Akinde let fly from distance, only to see his stinging shot brilliantly tipped onto the post by O’Brien at full stretch.

But a minute later the Daggers got one back out of nothing. What appeared to be a softly awarded free-kick against Elliott Johnson gave Jones the chance to whip left-footed past Crocombe and into the corner from 25 yards.

Chances continued to go Barnet’s way, though, with Akinde foiled when one-on-one with O’Brien before the Daggers keeper again got the better of the Bees’ number nine with a fine stop to prevent a second effort flying into the top corner.

From there on out it was a case of managing the game and apart from one snapshot from distance which Crocombe got down well to parry, Barnet were always in control.

With back-to-back league wins secured for the first time this season the Bees head to Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night for what will undoubtedly be a far stiffer test.

Barnet: Crocombe; Yiadom (Muggleton 86), N'Gala, Nelson, Johnson; Togwell, Weston (c), Gambin (Hoyte 82); McLean (Vilhete 72), Gash, Akinde.

Subs: Stephens (GK), Champion, Shomotun, Odoffin.

Dagenham & Redbridge: O'Brien; Passley, Nosworthy, Obileye, Widdowson; Ferdinand, Boucaud (c), Hamalainen (Hines HT), Hemmings (Jones HT); Cureton, Doidge.

Subs: Cousins (GK), Connors, Dikamona, McClure, Chambers, Hines, Jones.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 2,079 (330 away fans).