Altrincham 1-3 Barnet
Barnet took full advantage off an extra-man to return to winning ways at Altrincham.
A John Akinde penalty and one in each half from Michael Gash, opening his account for the club, was enough to seal victory and keep the club's fate in their own hands.
As Martin Allen had hinted in the week, he made four changes to his starting XI.
Injuries forced Andy Yiadom and Sam Togwell out of the squad with Mauro Vilhete and Conor Clifford coming into the side.
Sam Muggleton started the game at left-back, pushing Elliott Johnson into midfield in the place of Lee Cook. Akinde returned from his suspension to partner Michael Gash upfront and Charlie MacDonald dropped to the bench leaving Curtis Weston to take over the armband.
Akinde netted his 26th goals of the season as he earned and converted a penalty with just six minutes on the clock as he was bundled over by Tom Marshall as the striker prepared to pull the trigger.
As the last man, the ref had little choice but to show Marshall a red card.
The visitors asserted their dominance with the extra man and extended their lead through Gash as the forward turned home a free-kick from Luisma Villa.
Altrincham were given a route back into the game on the stroke of half time when Bondz N'Gala was judged to have fouled Damian Reeves, but Nicky Clee lashed the spot kick over the bar.
The home side didn't take long to get themselves back into game and pulled one back just three minutes into the second half when Reeves got behind the visiting defence and made no mistake with his finish.
Allen introduced club captain MacDonald to steady the ship, and the change worked when they restored their two goal lead in the 61st minute when Gash claimed his second of the afternoon rising above the defence to head home an Elliott Johnson ball.
The visitors finished the game with 10 men when MacDonald was forced off with a knee injury after all three substitutes had been made.
Curtis Weston thought he had got his name on the score-sheet with a superb chest and volley into the top corner, only for the ref to give a foul against Akinde in knocking the ball down to Weston.
The win means Barnet remain two points behind leaders Bristol Rovers but have a game in hand. Next week they place host to fellow promotion chasers Forest Green Rovers at The Hive.
