Michael Gash says winning the Conference with Barnet is the best moment of his career and the achievement was only made sweeter after a string of near misses.

The 28-year-old, who joined Barnet in January after being released by Kidderminster Harriers, has never played higher than the Conference but on Saturday helped steer the Bees back into the Football League after a two-year absence.

In 2013 he missed out in the Conference play-off semi-finals as Harriers were knocked out by Wrexham and three years earlier Gash went closer still only to lose out in the final at Wembley Stadium with York City.

However, after a career spent hassling opposing defences in the Conference, Gash will hope to enter uncharted territory next season and test himself at a higher level - if his contract is renewed.

“It is the best moment of my career without a doubt,” he confirmed. “I have had opportunities to go the league and unfortunately clubs have turned bids down.”

And the powerful striker admitted there had been times in his career when he wondered if league football would elude him forever.

He said: “It is definitely the hardest league to get out of. I have lost in the play-offs, lost in the play-off final and finished as a runner-up.

"You wonder if it is ever going to happen but the gaffer gave me an opportunity to come here and to win it like that with a performance like that [was brilliant].

“I am on top of the world,” he added. “It is such a fantastic feeling. To be involved with a team which has been fighting all year for the championship and to come in halfway through the season and try to fit in and give my two pennies’ worth has been absolutely magnificent.”

Gash, who was born in Rinteln, Germany as his father was a head teacher for the armed forces, has endured a peculiar season personally after leaving cash-stripped Kidderminster for a title chase with the Bees, via a brief loan spell at relegated Nuneaton Town.

“I was at Kiddy and there were a few problems so I had to go out on loan. My wife was pregnant at the time so I did not want to go too far,” explained Gash.

“So Nuneaton were there, I knew Liam Daish which was helpful but the contrast [from Nuneaton to Barnet] is totally different. Playing for them for them (Nuneaton), with all due respect, they are a part-time team.

“But coming here, the quality of players, training and the hunger the gaffer gets out of the players is unbelievable.

“You can’t leave the training pitch unless you have given 100 per cent, so going from a team fighting relegation to a team fighting for the championship and then coming to the final day in front of a packed crowd is fantastic.”

In the end the Bees made light work of the job, with Graham Stack limited to only one save of note – albeit a crucial one as he somehow clawed away Carl Finnigan’s header to preserve Barnet’s 2-0 lead.

Reflecting on the performance, Gash enthused: “You might think we would have been a bit nervous or apprehensive but we came out of the blocks so quickly.

“We could have had an early goal when Curtis (Weston) and I got mixed up with one another but with Mauro Vilhete getting in those positions and scoring goals, I think we looked comfortable.”

He added: “Stacky (Graham Stack) pulled off the best save I have seen. At 2-1 it could have been a little bit nervy towards the end but at 2-0 we looked comfortable. A few boys looked tired – including myself – but when there is a championship at the end of the line you just try and get through anything."