Another win means the National League title is not far off for Barnet FC reports Nick Sandamas

Barnet FC take on Gateshead in the National League — The Bees in action against Gateshead last Saturday (Credit – Nick Sandamas)

Barnet 3 Gateshead 1

The Bees took another stride towards the National League title and promotion back to the Football League after an eight-year absence with a three point haul against play-off contenders Gateshead at The Hive.

The Bees, unbeaten since October, almost took the lead in the fifth minute when Gateshead’s captain Regan Booty played the ball back to keeper Tiernan Brooks, who had to scurry back towards his own goal to clear it away with his leg.

Five minutes later though, the leaders did take the lead when Rhys Browne’s cut back found Myles Kenlock and he fired the ball into the roof of the net, the left back celebrating his first goal of the season.

Anthony Hartigan warmed the hands of Brooks five minutes later with a vicious free kick which saw Brooks push the ball away with his hand.

On 35 minutes, Gateshead had their first meaningful effort on goal, when Booty played the ball to Javon Malcolm but, fortunately for the Bees, his shot ended up going past the outside of the post.

Ryan Glover then had a strike at goal, with the ball going just inches past the left hand post as the leaders sought to go into the break with a two-goal advantage.

However, with five minutes to go before half time, the Bees did double their lead when Glover played a ball across to Callum Stead who ran a few yards before placing his shot low into the net past Brooks from the edge of the area.

The second half took a while to get going and it wasn’t until the 68th minute that an opportunity at goal was created and this came from the visitors’ Jack Roles whose shot went just wide.

On 75 minutes, Bees sub Dom Telford struck a venomous low shot which forced Brooks to gather the ball at the second attempt.

Then, on 82 minutes, the game took a turn, when Gateshead scored to halve the deficit with Malcolm receiving a pass before placing his shot into the top corner of the net to make it an interesting last eight minutes plus stoppage time.

But all that was finally put to bed in the fifth minute of stoppage time with the Bees third goal.

Telford played in Stead, who turned to score in the far corner for his fourteen goal of the season and send the home fans happy knowing that the finishing line is moving ever closer.

The Bees maintain their unbeaten home record with their overall unbeaten run now stretching to 25 league games. Their current points total of 91 is just two away from beating their previous best set in their last National League title success in the 2014/15 season.

They now need just eight points from their final six games to make it a real season to remember.

The Bees are back on the road tomorrow with a trip to Braintree.

Team: Evans, Collinge, Oluwo (Taveres 67), Kenlock, Glover, Hartigan, Brunt (Clifford 78), Browne (Chapman 64), Stead, Ndlovu (Telford 64), Kanu (Grimwood 90+4)

Subs not used: Ballagambi, Cropper

Attendance 2641 (111 away fans)

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