Goals from John Akinde and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro helped Barnet to a convincing victory over last season’s promotion challengers Accrington Stanley. 

Akinde put the Bees in front on 33 minutes when he raced onto a long ball from Elliott Johnson before firing past Stanley keeper Aaron Chapman. 

Substitute Akpa Akpro then sealed the win on the hour mark – bursting through the middle and drilling a low shot into the bottom left corner. 

The result was no less than Barnet deserved, after dominating much of the game and limiting Accrington to mostly long range efforts. 

A cagy start to the match saw few clear chances for either side. 

Ryan Watson lifted a shot from distance over the bar in the 13th minute, before John O’Sullivan replied with a similarly speculative effort for the visitors. 

But Barnet began to take control mid-way through the first half and had two good opportunities to go ahead. 

Michael Nelson’s low bullet header was cleared off the line on 23 minutes – it was soon followed by an Alex Nicholls’ volley that flew wide of the left post five minutes later.

It took until just over half an hour for the Bees to eventually break the deadlock, as Akinde found the net for the first time this season. 

Johnson chipped the ball over the top of Stanley’s defence, allowing last year’s top scorer to run at goal and finish neatly into the bottom left corner. 

Barnet began the second half as strongly as they finished the first, carving out a chance immediately after the restart. 

The energetic Curtis Weston curled a shot past the right post on 47 minutes, following a powerful run down the right from Akinde. 

Bees’ goalkeeper Josh Vickers was called into action for the first time six minutes later – diving to his right to palm away a looping Sean McConville effort. 

An injury to Michael Gash saw the introduction of Akpa Akpro as a substitute and it took the Frenchman just three minutes to have an impact. 

Barnet’s summer signing charged through the middle of the park before unleashing a low drive that nestled in the bottom left corner of Chapman’s goal. 

Martin Allen’s side sat back after going 2-0 up and defended resolutely; Accrington created little in the way of chances until the final few minutes of the match. 

Jordan Clarke danced his way into the box on 87 minutes, but his fierce shot was high and wide of the right post. 

The substitute then forced a sprawling save from Vickers deep into injury time, as Stanley searched for a way back into the game. 

It was to no avail though; Barnet held out until the final whistle and will be full of confidence when Blackpool visit The Hive on Tuesday night.