For the first 25 minutes Barnet were the better side but had nothing to show for their efforts, for the remaining 65 they conceded five goals without reply. 

In fact, such was the Bees early dominance that they could have been 3-0 ahead inside the first 20 minutes. Persistence by Liam Hatch directly from the kick-off saw Hendon receive the ball 20 yards out but the Bees captain could only direct his effort wide in the opening 15 seconds, whilst five minutes later Hatch himself forced Marriott into a fine diving save.

Lincoln, third in the league and buoyed by a large travelling army of supporters, simply did not come out of the traps and Magno Vieira wasted a third opportunity for the Bees 18 minutes in when he could only direct his close range effort straight at Marriott who held the ball at the second attempt.

Barnet's Brazilian striker then wasted another opportunity just five minutes later when he saw his clever turn and shot again well held by Marriott in the Imps goal.

So, from a potential 3-0 lead the Bees were to fall behind in the 26th minute when a misplaced cross-field pass from Hendon was cut out by Scott Kerr before he released an inch-perfect pass to Lee Frecklington who advanced into the box before squaring the ball to Jamie Forrester who made no mistake from six yards out to put the away side one up.

Five minutes later it was two when Forrester broke free of a static Barnet defence before he was brought down in the area by Ross Flitney. The former Bristol Rovers striker stepped up to the spot himself and made no mistake sending Flitney the wrong way.

Vieira and Hatch both saw good chances saved by Mariott before the Imps were to make it three in the 38th minute when the Bees defence failed to deal with an in swinging Scott Kerr free kick and Flitney could only parry the ball leaving Lee Beevers with the simplest of chances to drill the ball home into the roof of the net from five yards out.

Hatch saw a header caught by Marriott two minutes before half time but it was a case of one side taking their chances and one not as both teams left the field at half time.

Lincoln began the second half in a positive fashion and they could have made it four three minutes in when Mark Stallard saw his weak effort held by Flintey. 

Five minutes later, though, and the Imps were to go four goals ahead and Forrester was to complete his hat-trick with another penalty kick, although the decision to point to the spot was not as clear cut as the first spot kick with the Referee, a different official than there was for the first period after the initial Referee had been taken ill, adjudged that Bailey had tripped Frecklington in the area. Forrester again made no mistake and put the Imps further ahead.

Barnet continued to look to pass the ball but were creating very little in the way of chances and it was again Lincoln who were to get the next goal of the game a minute into stoppage time when substitute Leon Mettam drilled the ball home from six yards after sloppy Barnet defending to cap a miserable afternoon for the home side.

By Jonathan Sugar