Barnet suffered only their second defeat in nine matches as relegation-threatened Hartlepool United recorded a deserved victory at The Hive.

The visitors fought back from going behind after Fumnaya Shomotun gave the home side an early lead with a spectacular strike.

Two efforts in six minutes from Lewis Hawkins put Pools in front at he break before Nathan Thomas killed the contest after in the second period.

Barnet boss Martin Allen made five changes to the starting XI that beat Plymouth Argyle in midweek as he continued his squad rotation policy. 

The Bees welcomed Elliott Johnson back from injury, gave a first-start to teenage striker James Roberts. and recalled Shomoton, Michael Nelson and Sam Togwell.

The visitors started on the front foot and after only two minutes Thomas cut in from the right and hit a left-footed effort that curled just wide of the far post.

Barnet responded with some well-taken corners by Mark Randall that had clearly been practised on the training ground.

The Bees made the breakthrough in the 11th minute when Shomotun drifted past a player and drove the ball high into the net; a dramatic way to introduce yourself to the Barnet public.

Undoubtedly this is a player that we will hear more of in the future.

Hartlepool looked crushed and despondent with Barnet taking the lead and, in the immediate aftermath, the home side assumed almost complete control of the fixture.

Third from bottom of the table Hartlepool’s fragile confidence was shattered.

But Barnet’s inability to score a second indicated to the visitors perhaps there was a route back for them.

In the 33rd minute Luke James nearly levelled for Hartlepool but as he bore down on the Barnet goal Jamie Stephens smothered his goal-bound effort.

This raised the morale of the travelling supporters and they were in jubilant mood just a minute later when Hawkins hit an equaliser from 30 yards that flew into the top corner.

Just six minutes later the Bees went behind when Hawkins scored with a carbon copy after being set-up after fine work by Billy Paynter.

The whole complexion of the game had changed and from this moment Hartlepool were the dominant force.

Early in the second half John Akinde burst through but centre-back Rob Jones timed his tackle to perfection to concede a corner rather than a penalty.

Jones, signed on loan from Doncaster Rovers in time to play at The Hive, was a tower of strength in the Hartlepool defence.

He shackled the menace of Barnet's top-scorer Akinde and superbly marshalled those around him.

The Bees looked to have run out of steam with the considerable effort put into the last five matches during the last two weeks beginning to takes its toll.

Just after the hour mark Barnet’s hopes of a comeback were virtually extinguished when a long raking pass found Thomas just inside the penalty area and he rifled past Stephens.

Barnet would try to re-arrange both personnel and their formation in a quest to regain a foothold in the game but to no avail.

Bees ubstitute Matt Stevens did have a headed effort that was well saved late on by Trevor Carson but there was no denying this was an off-day for Allen's side.

Barnet: Stephens; Yiadom (c), N'Gala, Nelson, Johnson; Shomotun, Randall (Muggleton 54), Togwell (Gambin 61), Weston; Roberts (Stevens 54), Akinde.

Subs: McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Champion, Sesay, Pearson.

Hartlepool United: Carson; Magnay, R.Jones, Bates, Carroll; James, Gray (Woods 75), Featherstone, Hawkins (Walker 87), Thomas (Oates 78); Paynter.

Subs: Bartlett (GK), Fenwick, Richards, D.Jones.

Referee: Darren Handley.

Attendance: 1,734 (336 visiting supporters)