Barnet 3-1 AFC Telford United

Barnet striker John Akinde has now scored 15 goals this season

Striker John Akinde's hat-trick piled on the misery for bottom side AFC Telford as Barnet maintained their lead at the top of the Conference table.

The Bees took the lead in under a minute when Lee Cook crossed for Akinde to head the ball home past Freddy Hall.

Akinde got his second from the spot after being felled by Hall but Sean Cooke's volley put Telford back in it.

After Andy Parry brought down Charlie MacDonald, Akinde sealed his hat-trick with his second penalty of the match.

There was a lengthy delay in the second half when Telford defender Neill Byrne was stretchered off in a leg brace.

AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson told BBC Radio Shropshire:

"It's been a tough week injury wise, and unfortunately we have to ride ourselves through it. Neil Byrne looks like he has broken his ankle today and that's disappointing.

"We had to pick up the players in attacking positions, so we can only blame ourselves for conceding - but we are very much aware that Tuesday is a massive game for this club, the replay with Basingstoke is a big game and we were thinking about that.

"For me Barnet are champions elect. They have quality throughout the pitch and are a really good side.

"I was pleased with the work rate today, but we all make errors and we did start sloppy. But there are signs of improvement - if you look back to when we got battered at Halifax earlier in the season - and we have a massive desire, and a sense of character - even from the lads coming in on loan."