Barnet made a giant leap up the National League table and extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a 3-0 victory away at 10-man Eastleigh.

Shaq Coulthirst struck once in each half while Ephron Mason-Clarke also found the net in between the two after the hosts had Danny Hollands dismissed before the break.

Darren Currie made two changes to the line-up that drew with Leyton Orient at the weekend, with Medy Elito preferred to Andre Boucaud in midfield and Craig Robson was restored in defence.

The Bees thought they had taken the lead as early as the 11th minute when Elito’s header found the net, but the linesman ruled it out for offside.

However, soon after, they netted again and this time it stood as Callum Reynolds’ effort deflected in off Coulthirst after the home side failed to deal with a corner.

The game boiled over in the 41st minute when Eastleigh captain Hollands produced a reckless tackle on Robson and was immediately dismissed and, in the aftermath, a member of the hosts’ coaching staff was also shown a red card and sent to the stands.

Within five minutes of the restart, the visitors notched their second when Mason-Clarke pounced on an effort from Harry Taylor and diverted it towards goal in similar fashion to their opener, and the Bees were two to the good.

Darren Currie’s side then made the game safe shortly after when Mason-Clarke was brought down in the area and Coulthirst stepped up to calmly send Luke Southwood the wrong way.

The Spitfires almost clawed a goal back shortly after Barnet’s following a mis-communication at the back, but they were denied by an excellent last-ditch block from Robson.

The home side produced little to no danger after this though, and Barnet climb to 13th in the table, still with a game in hand on most of the team around them.

After the match, Currie told the club’s website: “They handled the ball superbly well tonight. They got three goals, possibly could have had one or two more but I don’t want to be greedy because it was an excellent away performance.

“Of course I’m happy and there’s lots of positivity in there but my demands are going to go through the roof because I want it all.”