Two second half goals by the Bees in-form striker Liam Hatch gave Barnet three valuable points as they maintain their challenge at the top end of the table and saw them climb to 5th in the table.

Josh Wright, back from his sojourn with young England, regained his place in central midfield alongside Neal Bishop and up front Hatch, after a series of impressive substitute performances, was given a chance to shine from the off.

In bright autumn sunshine Barnet took to the field in their blue and white striped shirts and it was Hatch, with only ten minutes on the clock, who came closest to opening the scoring when his lob hit the cross-bar.

Barnet had much of the play in the first half in which both sides displayed a lack of real urgency with much of the Bees approach play being let down by crosses into the box that often hit the first defender.

Early in the second period Wrexham's Simon Spender cut inside and into the Barnet penalty area, but his left footed effort was comfortably held by Lee Harrison.

Soon after when Barnet penetrated down the right, with Adam Birchall and Ashley Carew combining well, a powerful header by Hatch looked to have given the Bees the lead, only for his effort to be mysteriously disallowed.

Less than two minutes later a cross from the left by Jason Puncheon, which evaded Wrexham's defence, was stabbed home by the predatory Hatch who was unmarked at the far post.

Ten minutes later Hatch was at it again. Taking advantage of indecision in the centre of the Wrexham defence he was able to thump the ball home and the Bees now had a lead that the home side looked unlikely to impinge upon.

The Barnet fans that were gathered behind the goal that had been rippled twice by Hatch's efforts now began to jig in appreciation.

It was from this point on that Wrexham took on the characteristics of a team bottom of the table. Confidence, already in short supply, almost visibly drained from their play. They no longer had any belief and for the visitors the points were almost in the bag

In defence Joe O'Cearuill and Sagi Burton looked a much sounder pairing than in the week previous, with both full-backs, Joe Devera and Nicky Nicolau, able to make contributions further forward.

The contribution to this victory that Hatch played was considerable. Apart from scoring the games two goals his heading ability was deployed to great effect in both penalty areas and when he was substituted late on Barnet players could be seen to applaud the Bees hit man.

Barnet certainly played well enough to beat Wrexham, but sterner tests surely await. It is pleasing to report on another three points plundered from an away fixture but in Accrington Stanley, also enjoying a rich vein of form, the Bees will certainly encounter a more determined and confident outfit than beleaguered Wrexham.

David Bloomfield.