Barnet turned on the style in the second half to sweep aside a lack-lustre Notts County outfit who capitulated once the Bees had drawn level in the opening minutes of the second period before going on to win 3-1.

The Bees have now won 13 home league matches, only one less than Northampton Town, the runaway champions of League Two.

Barnet boss Martin Allen amazingly made eight changes to his team following the creditable 1-1 draw at Wycombe Wanderers three days earlier. Only Elliott Johnson, Andy Yiadom and John Akinde retained their places in an experimental side that was selected with an eye on next season.

Stung by their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of local rivals Mansfield Town at the weekend County started in determined mood and their positive stance was rewarded when Jon Stead converted a penalty that had been won by ex-Bee Izale McLeod after just six minutes.

Moments earlier however, Fumnaya Shomotun should have given Barnet the lead when he raced clear but County keeper Scott Loach was alert to the danger.

McLeod and Stead were looking a dangerous strike force for the visitors and they spurned a number of opportunities to extend the advantage.

The game would then swing in Barnet’s favour when the more seasoned Michael Gash and Bira Dembele were introduced at half-time, replacing teenagers Shomotun and Justin Nwogu.

Within two minutes of the restart the Bees were level when Gash was unceremoniously upended in the box and Akinde netted from the resulting spot-kick for his 17th league goal of the campaign.

Dembele then made a vital challenge on McLeod to deny the striker and the Bees would take the lead in the 57th minute when former Arsenal midfielder Mark Randall played a neat one-two with Yiadom before blasting home from close range.

Within six minutes Barnet made it 3-1 when the dynamic Yiadom benefitted from a deflection to score from distance and from this moment the outcome was a foregone conclusion as the visitors visibly wilted.

Midfielder Harry Taylor, another product of Barnet’s youth programme, was introduced in the 72nd minute and he gave a display that indicated that he could be a key player next season for the Bees.

Deft work down the right then saw Taylor set up Akinde with a golden opportunity as the Bees threatened to run riot with County only offering token resistance.

Randall then wasted a good opening when he was played through by Taylor only for his chipped effort to be easily collected Loach.

Barnet had demonstrated markedly more resilience and determination than their opponents in the manner in which came back from being a goal behind to finish the match comfortably the better team.

Barnet: Stephens, Yiadom, Sesay, N'Gala, Johnson, Nwogu (Gash 45), Randall, Champion, Gambin (Taylor), Shomotun (Dembele 45), Akinde. Subs not used: Stack, Muggleton, Batt, Day.

Notts County: Loach, Hewitt, Hollis, Edwards, Audel, Smith, Valencic (Burke 55), Opoku Aborah (Campbell 79), Noble, Stead, McLeod (Gibson 62). Subs not used: Carroll, Amevor, Sarpong, Burke, Atkinson.