Martin Allen felt Barnet’s 2-0 victory over League One Blackpool in the FA Cup first round showed how far the Bees have come in a short space of time.

Whilst the Bees enjoyed a triumphant return to the Football League in April, the Seasiders were readying themselves for life in the third tier following a miserable relegation under Jose Riga and latterly Lee Clark.

But the FA Cup is nothing if not a great leveller and at The Hive this afternoon Barnet were by far the better side with goals from Tom Champion and Michael Gash killing off the contest before half-time.

Speaking afterwards, Allen said: “It was only five months ago there was three divisions between our two clubs. They were playing in the Championship and we were playing in the Conference.

“I suppose that shows just how far we’ve come in a very short space of time. We looked more than comfortable winning that game today.

“But it’s the players who deserve the credit. In the 18 months I’ve been here they’ve come on immensely and we’ve got a very good squad and some very good players on the bench.”

Allen added: “I think it was a thoroughly deserved victory. They made quite a lot of changes to the team that I saw play at Bradford City on Tuesday night, which I suppose is understandable.

“I very much doubt they knew what we’d actually do here – we are quite strong, in fact we’re very strong, and it’s difficult to come and play here.

“I don’t think anyone who watched that game wouldn’t say we deserved to win that game. Our players were superb from start to finish.”

The Bees will now go into the hat for Monday night’s second round draw but Allen insists he has no preference on potential opponents with his focus on next weekend’s return to League Two action.

He said: “I can honestly tell you the only thing I care about right now – and I can’t wait for – is to walk out with this team in a local derby next Saturday afternoon away at Luton.

“I never said anything to the players after about the game about today. I just said ‘Get ready to go to Luton’. That was it, I just walked out.

“I think we’ll have a lot of support up at Luton. It isn’t far from here, you could walk there. I just can’t wait to go to be honest.”

Click here to read the match report as Barnet brushed aside League One opposition in the FA Cup.