Barnet picked up their first win back in the Football League by beating the side who relegated them two seasons ago, Northampton Town, 2-0 at The Hive thanks to a game-changing cameo from Luke Gambin.

It was at Sixfields in April 2013 the Bees lost their Football League status, and after defeats against Leyton Orient and Wycombe Wanderers to open the campaign, it was a case of third time lucky as Martin Allen’s side got up-and-running.

Following a diabolical first half which the visiting Cobblers narrowly edged, it was the introduction of Gambin that turned the game on its head.

The winger could have thought himself hard done by for being left out after excellent displays against Wycombe and Millwall last week.

However, when called up on the 22-year-old flyer provided the injection of pace, urgency and unpredictability which had been lacking in a joy-less first hour.

Having displayed a glimpse of what he could provide immediately after his arrival from the bench, the former AFC Wimbledon man won the penalty from which John Akinde scored Barnet’s first goal since their return to League Two, sealing all three points.

Akinde bagged a second at the death, making sure of the points and ending Northampton's 100 per cent start to the season.

The Bees made two changes from the side beaten by Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday with Ben Tomlinson handed his first league start in place of Gambin, whilst Michael Gash came in for Tom Champion in a 4-4-2 system.

Graham Stack began in goal with Gavin Hoyte, Bondz N’Gala, Bira Dembele and Elliott Johnson in front of him. Andy Yiadom, Curtis Weston, Sam Togwell and Tomlinson were in midfield with Gash alongside Akinde.

The Cobblers included former Bee Sam Hoskins in their starting XI. Ricky Holmes had been named in the side but was replaced prior to kick-off by Lawson D’Ath.

In a dire first half Northampton Town had the best of the chances, first going close after 13 minutes when D’Ath’s cross from the left spun up in the air off the legs of Stack, who then got down to his left to push Hoskins’ header out.

Barnet’s best chance came in the 18th minute when Akinde outmuscled Rod McDonald before dragging his low shot straight at Cobblers goalkeeper Adam Smith, who blocked well with his legs.

Stack was called into action again after 30 minutes, somehow blocking from Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the back post after a deep corner had picked out the tall forward.

D’Ath might have capitalised on a Stack slip before half time but after the Bees goalkeeper failed to get a bouncing ball under control the winger lost his footing before he could shoot, bringing to a poor half to a welcome close.

Barnet had the first chance of the second half and one was left feeling Akinde would have found the back of the net last season.

From a long ball forward the hulking number nine took advantage of a bouncing ball on the edge of the penalty area, spinning his marker and sending a left-footed half-volley narrowly wide of Smith’s left-hand post.

Gambin was introduced just before the hour mark and the diminutive winger changed the game in an instant.

Within seconds of his arrival Gambin had charged into the penalty area and seen a cross blocked.

And five minutes after his introduction he blasted past several Cobblers players at pace before slipping in Akinde who was promptly brought down by Taylor inside the penalty area.

The midfielder was sent off and Akinde then ambled up to roll home the penalty, giving Barnet their first league goal in 244 minutes.

Barnet ought to have doubled their lead in the 72nd minute and again it was Gambin at the centre of the move, latching onto Gash’s backheel before firing in a ferocious cross which Smith could help into the path of Yiadom, who fired straight back at the Cobblers goalkeeper.

By now this was turning into the Luke Gambin show.

And a couple of minutes after his last searing run, the Bees’ number 12 darted between two Northampton players and into the penalty area only to fire agonizingly wide of the far post.

Right at the death Akinde made sure of the points, latching onto a booming ball forward, rounding goalkeeper Smith and tucking into the empty net.

Barnet: Stack; Hoyte, N’Gala, Dembele, Johnson; Yiadom, Weston (c) (Muggleton 90), Togwell, Tomlinson (Gambin 58); Gash, Akinde (Nelson 90).

Subs: Stephens (GK), Vilhete, Champion, Muggleton, Batt.

Northampton Town: Smith; Lelan, McDonald, Cresswell, Buchanan (c); Hackett (Adams 58), Byrom, Taylor, D’Ath; Hoskins (Richards 68), Calvert-Lewin.

Subs: Clarke (GK), Potter, Corry, O'Toole.

Referee: Lee Swabey.

Attendance: 2,466 (922 away supporters).