Barnet secured their first win of the season on Saturday as they saw off the tough challenge of Accrington Stanley at the Hive.

John Akinde was on target in the first half for the Bees before a wonderful long range strike from substitute Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro on the hour mark handed the hosts three points in the League Two clash.

It was a solid performance from the Bees who won the midfield and aerial battles on their way to victory against the Lancastrians who came so close to achieving promotion last season.

Martin Allen made two changes to the side who started against Millwall in the League Cup on Tuesday with Michael Gash and Harry Taylor replacing Akpa Akpro and Bondz N’Gala.

Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 20 minutes, with Ryan Watson’s off-target shot being the closest Barnet came to scoring while Sean McConville curled the ball just wide for Stanley a few minutes later.

The first effort on target came in the 24th minute and it nearly put the Bees ahead as Michael Nelson got on the end of a Ryan Watson cross following a short corner routine, but visiting defender Mark Hughes blocked the ball on the line.

Barnet used the same short corner tactic again five minutes later and nearly got a reward as the ball fell to Alex Nicholls on the edge of the box and the midfielder hit a lovely strike which just drifted wide.

The hosts were finding their feet and finally got rewarded in the 33rd minute as Akinde raced onto Elliott Johnson’s cracking pass over the top.

With the offside trap beaten, Barnet’s striker kept his cool under pressure and calmly slotted his shot to Aaron Chapman’s right hand side.

While the Bees had been gaining control, Accrington still looked threatening going forward with the experience of Chris Eagles just behind Romauld Boco, an early replacement for Terry Gornell.

However, whenever the visitors got into the final third, their final ball was letting them down with several crosses just evading players at the back post.

After the break, a swift counter attack nearly saw Barnet double their lead as Curtis Weston’s curling shot drifted wide following a run by Akinde which outpaced a couple of defenders.

Josh Vickers had barely touched the ball in the first half, but the Bees’ stopper was made to work eight minutes after the restart as he had to stretch out and prevent McConville’s long range effort from going in.

Michael Gash picked up an injury and was forced off with Akpa Akpro replacing him and just three minutes later, the substitute made his mark.

As the Bees pushed forwards, the Frenchman gathered the ball about 25 yards out from goal and sweetly struck a low shot into the bottom left hand corner which Accrington’s goalkeeper could not reach even at full stretch.

The wind had now been taken out of Accrington’s sails, but the away side still pushed forward knowing they had half-an-hour to make a difference.

But just like in the first half, final balls appeared to be an issue for them coupled with the likes of Bira Dembele winning aerial battles in the penalty area.

Throughout the match, Barnet’s midfield had shown an exceptional work-rate, including Watson who came close to capping his day with a goal, only to see his edge of the area effort narrowly miss the target.

Seven minutes of injury time had to be negotiated by the Bees due to a couple of lengthy stoppages and Accrington created a good chance early into this period as Eagles weaved through the defence to force a fine save from Vickers.

Barnet’s stopper, on loan from Swansea City, made another fine save in the dying moments of the tie after a stinging McConville shot to ensure he kept a clean sheet.

Barnet: Vickers; Taylor, Nelson, Dembele, Johnson; Weston, Togwell, Watson (Champion 90+4), Nicholls (Vilhete 85); Gash (Akpa Akpro 57), Akinde.

Subs not used: N’Gala, Gamblin, Muggleton, McKenzie-Lyle.

Accrington: Chapman; Donacien, Beckles, Hughes, Pearson; Hewitt (Hery 65), Conneely; O’Sullivan Eagles, McConville; Gornell (Boco 15, Clark 72).

Subs not used: Davies, Jones, Lacey, White.