Striker Shaun Batt was a happy man after Barnet’s 1-0 win at Mansfield Town in EFL League Two this afternoon, and with good reason too.
The striker was impressive on his first league start since February for the Bees and very nearly opened his account for Martin Allen’s men.
Barnet picked up their second win of the EFL League Two season and their first at Mansfield since April 2000 with John Akinde grabbing the game’s only goal 12 minutes into the second half.
"I’m very happy," Batt said. "The only way to top it off would have been to score a goal. I think I played an hour and I’m happy to play well and get three points.Â
"There is nothing for me to be negative about today. I’m looking forward to the next game now and hopefully more chances will come.
"I have worked hard behind the scenes and played in Development Team games when I have had to in order to build my fitness up," explained Batt.Â
"I’ve done lots of work in the gym and I’m probably the fittest and most confident I have ever been in my body — which is something I need.
"There is competition for places up front. We have had some new guys come in — Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Alex Nicholls and Jamal Campbell-Ryce has come back from injury — and everyone is hungry to play. I am definitely hungry to play so it is exciting."
The win, Barnet’s first on the road this season, leaves the Bees in a congested middle of the table at  this early stage.
And Batt hopes the win will provide a springboard for the Bees when recently-relegated Colchester United visit The Hive next Saturday.Â
"This is a massive result," he said. "Against Carlisle United we didn’t really get going and against Newport County we were 1-0 up when it got abandoned but there were things we weren’t completely happy with.Â
"So to come here and put in a good performance and get the win was massive for us. Hopefully we can build on that.
"The Newport game killed a bit of momentum but we’ve responded in the perfect manner by coming here and getting three points.Â
"We’ve got confidence now going into the next game and we want to go there and do what we have done today."
