Barnet secured a 2-1 home victory against Luton Town with a John Akinde penalty with virtually the last kick of an eventful game at The Hive this afternoon.

The visitors had equalised just minutes before but the Bees mustered a late rally to send the Barnet fans in the largest crowd of the season home more than happy.

This has been a season without concerns of a relegation back to the Conference and after today’s set of results Barnet are mathematically safe and can plan for next season secure in the knowledge that they will do so as a Football League club.

Bees manager Martin Allen made six changes to the side that earned a creditable draw in the Good Friday fixture at Exeter. This was largely due to ‘squad rotation’ but there was one surprise with the inclusion of goalkeeper Graham Stack who made his return after seven months out with injury.

The Bees lined-up with two strikers in Akinde and Michael Gash in an offensive looking 4-4-2 formation with Luke Gambin returning to the left wing and Sam Muggleton replacing the injured Elliott Johnson at left-back.

Both sides had periods when they were on top during the first half but genuine opportunities to break the deadlock were rare.

Barnet’s centre-back Michael Nelson was a danger in the opponents’ penalty area as he was the target of Muggleton’s very long throw-ins with his defensive partner Alie Sesay proving adept at nullifying Luton’s attacks.

In blustery conditions a wind-assisted free-kick by skipper Andy Yiadom nearly caught out the Hatters’ keeper with Jonathan Mitchell relieved to see the ball sail over the cross bar.

With half-time approaching the Bees had to thank their experienced keeper, who repelled a fierce effort from Luton midfielder Cameron McGeehan.

The game came to life in the 49th minute when Akinde combined with Gambin for the winger to pick his spot from 20 yards to hit a low drive into the far corner of the net.

Just eight minute later Jack Marriott did succeed in putting the ball past Stack for a leveller but his attempt was disallowed by an early flag raised by the assistant referee.

Glen Rae and McGeehan had wayward efforts for Luton as the visitors sought to equalise; the Barnet rearguard now working overtime to protect their clean sheet.

Former Celtic midfielder Paddy McCourt was introduced just after the hour mark and his class and guile gave Luton’s attacks a greater threat.

Eventually the pressure told with just five minutes of normal time remaining when Stack did well initially to keep out Scott Cuthbert’s close-range effort, but the ball fell invitingly to McGeehan who hit the ball into the roof of the net.

The large travelling support then saw substitute Danny Green miss the target after he had manoeuvred himself into a good position.

But in Barnet’s very next forage forward, deep into time added on, a free-kick by Yiadom was bizarrely and unnecessarily handled by Luton skipper Cuthbert for the Hatters to concede a penalty.

Akinde, retaining the job of penalty taker despite his miss at Exeter just days before, calmly stroked home the winning goal for the Bees.

Barnet: Stack, Pearson, Nelson, Sesay, Muggleton, Yiadom, Weston (Vilhete 78), Togwell, Gambin (N'Gala 68), Akinde, Gash (Stevens 90). Subs not used: Champion, Shomotun, Stephens, Taylor.

Luton Town: Mitchell, O'Donnell, Cuthbert, Okuonghae, Sheehan, Rea (Green 80), Smith (McCourt 63), Ruddock, McGeehan, Marriott, Benson (Pigott 73). Subs not used: Lawless, Justham, Lee, McQuoid.

Referee: Graham Salisbury.

Attendance: 4,008 (1,823 Luton supporters).