Barnet head coach Martin Allen says Barnet’s 6-2 FA Trophy defeat against Concord Rangers highlighted the gap between youth and men’s football and underlined the work required to bridge it.

The Bees boss named a young side for Tuesday night’s first round replay at The Hive, with no fewer than six members of the club’s Under-18 side starting against the Beach Boys, whilst two of the three substitutes were also youth team players.

After falling behind to Steve Cawley’s effort, Barnet levelled when Bernard Mensah thrashed home a penalty. However Sam Collins and Lewis Taaffe struck after the break to put the visitors 3-1 up.

Again Barnet hit back from the spot, Matt Stevens scoring on that occasion, before Cawley again, Mitchell Pinnock and Tony Stokes took the game away from the young Bees.

Academy manager Henry Newman and professional phase development coach Ross Eames prepared and controlled the side, with Allen, player-coach Graham Stack and midfielder Luisma Villa casting a watchful eye over proceedings from the back of the East Stand.

Speaking afterwards Allen said: “Some of the young players will remember this night for the rest of their lives – their full senior debut is very special. But it has also given us all a reminder; the players, the youth staff and myself. There is a big gap between youth football and men’s football and for the last half an hour that was obvious.

“It shows everybody the work they have got to put it. It is OK being very good technically, but you have to be physically able to step up: to win headers, tackles and go box-to-box. It is difficult and it is a big step up.”

Allen continued: “I think we do have to remind ourselves that our full first team played against Chelmsford not so long ago in the FA Cup and we drew away. Then in the replay it was not too convincing but we managed to win through – only just – so with so many youth team players playing tonight it was always going to be a very difficult game, particularly as the game wore on.

“They are only from the division below. Do not be fooled because they have got a name, Concord Rangers, which no-one has ever really heard of. They are only just below Chelmsford and they gave us a real run for our money over two games.”

Allen also paid tribute to the job done by Newman and Eames, who have taken Barnet’s Under-18s to the top of the Youth Alliance League South East division.

“Henry and Ross prepared the team yesterday and before the game and it was nice for me tonight to be able to sit back, watch, enjoy their performance and see Henry and Ross working because they have done a fantastic job with the youth team through the season.

“Apart from the goals going in near the end, I have enjoyed watching the game,” Allen concluded.

Click here to read thre match report from Tuesday's FA Trophy exit.