Bees halt the buzz over Key's era

ARNET strengthened their position in the National League's B top three by inflicting the first home defeat of the Kevin Phillips era at Hartlepool.

- Paul Fraser

Pools were made to pay for a poor first-half performance by a Bees team determined not to return to the capital with anything other than maximum points.

Gatlin O'Donkor opened the scoring in the 12th minute by stroking in a lovely finish inside Joel Dixon's bottom-right corner after he had been left in far too much space.

And the striker's third goal since arriving on loan from Oxford United was followed by a curling Anthony Hartigan free-kick from near the touchline that flew straight in the top corner a minute before the break.

Barnet never looked back after that and preserved their advantage to stay eight points above fourth place, despite Hartlepool pulling one back in the last minute with a Nicky Featherstone header.