It has been a season-long trait that Barnet concede late goals but this time the boot was on the other foot as the strikeforce of John Akinde and Shaq Coulthirst scored headers to secure three vital points for the Bees and their first victory since early September with a 2-1 triumph at Newport County.

New boss Mark McGhee made three changes to his side that lost narrowly at Port Vale at the weekend.

Skipper Michael Nelson, Mauro Vilhete and David Tutonda all won recalls as McGhee opted for a 3-5-2 formation, with strikers Akinde and Coulthirst providing the main goal-threat.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Harry Taylor and Andre Blackman all dropped to the bench.

This fixture is often played in South Wales in wet and windy conditions and Rodney Parade provided more of the same this time around.

Coherent football was always going to difficult and in the first half both sides created only a few genuine goal-scoring opportunities.

A deflected effort off of Ricardo Santos nearly gave the Exiles the lead in the 16th minute but the centre-back was relieved to see the ball hit an upright.

Barnet’s midfielder Dan Sweeney had a good headed effort cleared off the line by Ben White midway through the first period.

A Ryan Watson free-kick and a header from Coulthirst were the closest the Bees went to forging a half-time lead, but given the conditions it was no surprise that the game was scoreless at the interval.

Barnet finished the half on the offensive but the home side had enjoyed the edge in the first 45 minutes but were unable to turn that superiority into goals.

However, the home side did go on to take the lead in the 73rd minute.

Jamie Stephens, back on his old stomping ground, parried a powerful shot from Padraig Amond to the edge of the penalty area, but with the Barnet defence static Ben White headed home from distance for his first goal in professional football.

Such a scenario of letting in a late goal has frequently been curtains for the Bees but with fit-again Akinde and Coulthirst leading the line there is more optimism their side has a genuine goalscoring threat.

Campbell-Ryce, who came on for Sweeney at half-time, was crucial in creating both of Barnet’s goals.

With just two minutes remaining the Bees levelled.

Operating down the left flank Campbell-Ryce was found by Akinde, who had surged forward with the striker then making his way into Newport’s penalty area.

Campbell-Ryce’s pin-point delivery was headed home by Akinde from close range as the game swung in Barnet’s favour.

The winning goal came in the first minute of time added on and was a carbon copy of the leveller.

On this occasion it was Coulthirst who latched onto Campbell-Ryce’s well-measured centre to send the small band of Barnet fans into rapture.

County could hardly believe it and put the Barnet goal under intense pressure in the remaining five minutes of additional time, but having travelled this far, waited so long and got their noses in front the Bees were in no mood to relinquish their hard-fought lead.

Barnet: Stephens, Clough, Nelson (H.Taylor 84), Santos, Tutonda (Nicholls 68), Watson, J.Taylor, Sweeney (Campbell-Ryce 45), Vilhete, Akinde, Coulthirst. Subs not used: Fonguck, Ross, Blackman, Akpa Akpro.