Barnet produced a scintillating display to secure a 1-0 victory over League leaders Plymouth Argyle at The Hive in their first game of 2017.

An early goal from the versatile Mauro Vilhete set the Bees on their way, but the whole-team performance reinforced Barnet's credentials as genuine play-off candidates.

The interim management duo of Rossi Eames and Henry Newman made four changes from the side that tasted defeat against Luton Town on Boxing Day.

Henry Taylor and Nana Kyei won recalls, with new signings defender Ricardo Santos and forward Simeon Akinola making their debuts.

In the opening moments Plymouth winger Jake Jervis looked dangerous and Argyle’s Yann Songo’o went close with an audacious effort with the back of his head, from a corner but it was Barnet who quickly assumed control of the fixture.

In Akinola, Barnet have possibly found the strike partner for John Akinde which they have been seeking since Michael Gash was sidelined in August with a serious knee injury.

The ex-Braintree forward is lively and inventive, has pace and is always eager to get his shots away.

In the seventh minute Jack Taylor was the first to carve an opening for the Bees. He twisted and turned inside the Plymouth penalty area before delivering a tempting cross that the Barnet forwards were only a fraction away from converting.

Argyle centre-back Sonny Bradley was then left unmarked at a corner but his effort was wide of the mark and it was Barnet who took the lead in the 14th minute.

A Kyei corner from the left was met by Vilhete, who managed to conjure up a looping header which went over the heads of both the Barnet and Plymouth players inside the box before dropping in at the far post.

Barnet did not rest on their laurels, instead taking the game to the visitors, with Kyei having two good efforts which Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick was happy not to concede from.

Akinola was then set free by an inventive Jack Taylor pass but the striker, perhaps too eager to please, hurried his effort and blasted over.

In the second half, with Plymouth pushing for an equaliser, Barnet looked a potent force on the break. A tremendous run down the right flank by Vilhete set up Akinde, whose powerful shot was parried by McCormick.

Kyei then hit the angle between cross-bar and upright following a well-worked move with the Bees seeking a second which would have put the game beyond Argyle’s reach.

Graham Carey, Argyle’s midfield general, became influential midway through the second half but whenever Plymouth did mount an attack it often floundered.

That was thanks to the duo of centre-backs Santos and 36-year-old skipper Michael Nelson, who were both in awesome form and relishing every opportunity clear their lines.

Barnet did enjoy a slice of fortune when defender Gary Miller miscued from close range in the 83rd minute but few could argue that the home side did not thoroughly deserve this victory.

The Bees have now recorded home and away victories this season against Argyle.

Barnet: Stephens, H. Taylor (Muggleton 85), Nelson, Santos, Johnson, Vilhete, Weston, J. Taylor, Kyei (Campbell-Ryce 64), Akinola (Sweeney 73) Akinde.

Unused: Gambin, Vickers, Nicholls, Tutonda.