A brace from Michael Gash and a John Akinde penalty saw Barnet pick up their first Conference win in three and keep up the pressure on new leaders Bristol Rovers with a 3-1 victory at Altrincham.

A 1-0 win for the Gas at Gateshead means Barnet trail Darrell Clarke's side by two points but have the advantage of a game in hand - at FC Halifax Town on March 17.

Akinde put Barnet ahead early from the penalty spot, whilst Alty defender Tom Marshall was sent off, before Gash doubled up from close range. Nicky Clee then skied a penalty for the Robins prior to the break. 

Damian Reeves did halve the deficit after the restart but Gash nodded home to seal a big three points.

The one dampener was the loss of Charlie MacDonald with a leg injury suffered after entering from the substitute's bench.

Martin Allen shuffled his pack for the trip to Moss Lane, making four changes from the side beaten by Grimsby Town.

Mauro Vilhete, Sam Muggleton, Conor Clifford and Akinde all came into the side, with MacDonald, Lee Cook, Sam Togwell and Andy Yiadom dropping out.

Togwell missed out with a knee problem, whilst Yiadom tweeted to reveal he suffered an injury on Thursday. Skipper MacDonald and Cook dropped down to the bench.

Graham Stack began in goal, with Vilhete, Bondz N’Gala, David Stephens and Muggleton comprising an unfamiliar back four.

Villa, Curtis Weston, Clifford and Elliott Johnson were in midfield, with Akinde partnering Gash for the first time.

Fast starts were a trait of Barnet's form earlier in the campaign, as were penalties won by Akindne, and the Conference's top-scorer took just six minutes to mark his return from suspension.

Bustling into the penalty area, Akinde was pushed over by Altrincham defender Marshall, who was dismissed as the last man. Akinde beat goalkeeper Stuart Coburn from the spot with ease, rolling the ball to the stopper's left.

With the Bees in control, a second goal arrived shortly before the half-hour mark to strengthen their advantage.

A Luisma free kick crept through the Altrincham wall and touched home by Gash to claim his first goal in Black and Amber, though the strike was initially credited to the Spaniard.

And the Bees should have taken a 3-0 lead into half-time when Akinde got down the side and cut back for Gash but the delivery was just behind the former Cambridge United striker.

As it was, Altrincham were left head in hands after passing up a penalty of their own. In first-half injury time N'Gala was adjudged to have bundled over Reeves and from the resulting spot kick, Clee fired over Stack's crossbar.

In line with Allen's policy of protecting  players on bookings, N'Gala was withdrawn at half time and replaced by Jack Saville.

Just three second-half minutes had passed when Reeves got one back for Alty, latching onto a long ball forward and dispatching beyoind Stack to reduce the deficit.

Allen made two more tactical tweaks in response to the goal, switching Muggleton to left midfield and Johnson to left back, whilst introducting MacDonald from the bench in place of MacDonald.

And in the 61st minute he was rewarded as Barnet grabbed their third. 

Clifford's quick free kick released Johnson and he crossed perfectly for Gash to nod in his second of the afternoon, restoring the visitors' two-goal advantage.

Club captain MacDonald saw his afternoon ended prematurely with all the Bees substitutions made, forced off with a knee injury following a collision.

Weston thought he'd crashed home a fourth on the volley only to see the effort disallowed for an Akinde foul before Stephens blocked on the line from Reeves to preserve Barnet's cushion.

Barnet: Stack; Vilhete, N’Gala (Saville 45), Stephens, Muggleton (Cook 62); Luisma (MacDonald 57), Weston, Clifford, Johnson; Akinde, Gash

Subs: Gambin, H.Taylor.

Altrincham: Coburn; Densmore, Griffin, Moult, Havern; Lawrie (Leather 20), Richman, Reeves, Clee (Cavanagh 78); Perry (Sinnott 78), Marshall.

Subs: Parton, Crowther.

Referee: Mr M McCoy.

Attendance: 1,450.