A goal and assist from Josh Clarke helped secure a 2-0 victory over Exeter City at The Hive.

Barnet opened the scoring after 34 minutes when Clarke’s cross was diverted into his own goal by Exeter’s Troy Brown. 

Clarke then doubled the Bees lead when his run and shot was neatly slotted into the corner of the net with 54 minutes gone.

It was Barnet who had the first chance of the match when Bondz N’Gala headed a Curtis Weston corner over the bar on four minutes. 

Elliott Johnson’s eighth minute cross from the left was met by John Akinde, but his looping header was high and off target.

A smart passing move from the Bees saw Weston shoot narrowly wide of the near post with a quarter of an hour on the clock. 

John Akinde’s turn and shot from a narrow angle then forced Bobby Olejnik into a save minutes later.

A 30th minute Johnson free kick was parried away by the visiting goalkeeper, but the Bees were soon ahead.

Clarke’s right wing cross was turned into the net by Exeter defender Brown with eleven minutes to go until the break.

Tom Nichols forced Jamie Stephens into his first save of the match on 38 minutes – the keeper was quick off his line to deny the City forward.

Akinde had Barnet’s final effort of the half when his run and shot flew straight at Olejnik and was easily saved.

Barnet began the second half in impressive fashion, and Weston saw a shot from distance go wide minutes after the restart. 

Ryan Harley then had an effort on goal deflected past the post for the visitors.

Clarke added a second for the Bees on 54 minutes – the on loan full back seized on a loose ball to charge down the wing and power a shot into the bottom left corner.

Exeter pushed to get back into the match, and Stephens had to be at his best to stop David Wheeler’s drive with an hour played.

But Barnet held on for the win, and can now look forward to an FA Cup tie with Blackpool next Saturday.