Barnet too strong for Chester FC

Barnet have recorded a 3-0 victory over Chester FC to move seven points clear at the top of the Conference Premier table.

After being dumped out of the FA Trophy by Concord Rangers, Barnet were looking for a positive response at the Bee Hive Stadium, but they almost fell behind after three minutes when Sean McConville headed just wide of the post.

Barnet responded through Lee Cook, who had a free kick parried away by Jon Worsnop, before goalkeeper Graham Stack pulled off a double stop at the other end to deny Matthew Brown and Kane Richards.

That proved to be an important intervention as Barnet took the lead shortly before the half-hour mark, when John Akinde capitalised on a poor back-pass before slotting the ball past Worsnop.

Chester began the second half on the front foot, with Craig Hobson striking the bar from distance, but the visitors were dealt a blow seven minutes after the restart when Gareth Roberts was dismissed for an elbow on Luisma Villa.

The home side wasted little time in capitalising on their man advantage as they doubled their lead through Charlie MacDonald, who blasted the ball into the top corner from 12 yards after being set up by Cook.

Bernard Mensah had a curling effort kept out as the game ticked into the final quarter, but Barnet confirmed the three points with nine minutes remaining as Curtis Weston latched on to a David Stephens layoff before drilling the ball into the bottom corner.