Barnet 5 Altrincham 0

ALTRINCHAM dropped into the relegation places following this comprehensive defeat at league leaders, Barnet.

In the opening ten minutes there was little to suggest that such a heavy reverse was on the cards but Altrincham found themselves chasing the game after just twelve minutes.

Damian Reeves felt he had been fouled, near halfwa,y but referee Mr Lugg allowed play to continue. The ball was played into Altrincham's box and, although it was cleared, it fell to Barnet's Luisma Villa, who drilled a low shot past goalkeeper Parton.

The lead was doubled after half an hour when Barnet's striker, John Akinde, got his foot to the ball just ahead of Alty goalkeeper Parton's advance to the edge of his box. The Barnet striker went down under the keeper's challenge and a penalty was awarded. Parton needed treatment before seeing Akinde's spot kick make it 2-0.

Parton immediately went down for more treatment and had to be substituted by Stuart Coburn.

Another important refereeing decision went against Altrincham when Barnet defender N'Gala, already booked, launched a hefty challenge into the back of Jake Moult. Somehow, the big Barnet defenderescaped without the second yellow card that his challenge merited.

A couple of minutes later, Barnet won another penalty. This time it was Scott Leather who hauled down the lively Villa as he threatened to get clear left of goal, five minutes before the end of the first 45 minutes.

Again, Akinde scored confidently from the spot.

The score became 4-0 in the fourth minute of first-half added time.

Nurse got free on the right and his pass allowed Akinde to complete his hat-trick with a rising shot into the net.

Three minutes after the break, Barnet brought on their new loan signing from Yeovil, Sam Howson, and he scored with his first kick, less than a minute later.

Next Saturday Altrincham entertain Kent side and fellow strugglers, Welling United, at the J. Davidson Stadium.

Altrincham: Parton, Leather, Havern, Marshall, Griffin, Lawrie, Cavanagh (capt), Moult, Clee, Perry, Reeves. Subs: Coburn, Gillespie, Wilkinson, M. Williams, Densmore.