Gravesend 1 Barnet 3

THERE were no surprises at Stonebridge Road as a 1,707-strong crowd watched Conference leaders Barnet come from behind with a strong second-half performance on Saturday.

The result stretched the Bees’ lead at the top-of-the-table to 13 points and in the end it was a comfortable victory despite Ismail Yakubu’s bizarre own goal gifting the Fleet a 15th minute lead.

Fleet boss Andy Ford said: "Unfortunately strength, fitness and organisation told in the last half-hour.

"We did ourselves justice for 60 minutes, but the difference between us with them being full-time showed when they got three quick goals. We competed well until that point and our goalkeeper Jamie Pullen had a good game."

In their relentless pursuit of the title Barnet started at full pace, Guiliano Grazioli forcing a decent smothering save from Pullen in the seventh minute.

Fleet to their credit responded well, with two cracking Roy Eassandoh headers, one of which needed defender Simon Clist to make a goal-line clearance.

When Yakubu beat his own keeper after Manny Omoyinmi went on a great run past four defenders, part-timers Fleet were threatening a shock.

But Paul Fairclough’s team always looked dangerous and Liam Hatch tested Pullen before the break, before Barnet regrouped for a second-half assault.

Their efforts were rewarded when former Fleet striker Hatch levelled after an hour and five minutes later Nick Bailey gave them the lead from six-yards.

Dean Sinclair put the result beyond doubt when he converted Bailey’s cross with just over 15 minutes left.

Gravesend: Pullen, Gledhill, Skinner, Moore, McCarthy, Sidibe, Drury, McKimm, Saunders, Essandoh, Omoyinmi (Peters 48 (Pinnock 77)). Subs Not Used: Protheroe, Wilkerson, Lovell.

Attendance: 1,707.