A brace from Dutch trialist Marciano helped Barnet complete a 3-0 pre-season victory against Hitchin Town.

The striker netted twice in the first half. The opener was a close range finish while his second was a fine volley from outside the penalty area.

Mauro Vilhete added the Bees third in the second period and Barnet saw out the game with ease to record a comfortable win.

Hitchin created the first chance as Ryan Charles forced trialist goalkeeper Nick Jupp into a routine early stop.

From that point the youthful Barnet side took control. The Bees were awarded a penalty just past the quarter hour mark after Marciano was brought down in the area.

George Sykes took the spot kick but his low effort was pushed clear by Tahj Bell.

The visitors went ahead minutes later however as a free-kick into the area was met by Vilhete. His header was blocked by Marciano fired home the rebound.

Sykes then came close with a clipped shot which just missed the post and Iffy Allen forced Bell into a reaction stop with an effort from distance.

Two minutes before the break Barnet added a second. There didn’t seem much danger when the ball dropped to Marciano 25 yards out but he sliced a powerful volley over Bell and into the top corner.

Barnet made a change at the interval with Spanish trialist Roberto replaced by Ahmed Abdulla.

The second period continued in the same fashion as the first. Michael King did come close for Hitchin shortly after the restart but they rarely threatened the Barnet goal.

The Bees kept the majority of possession throughout the half but didn’t create many clear chances.

They did add a third goal from a corner. Jon Nurse whipped a low cross into the area and Vilhete escaped his marker to tap home.

The introduction of Billy Lobjoit livened up the Barnet attack and he had a free-kick saved before volleying just wide.

Jupp was forced into action late in the contest as Charles found space in the box and his powerful effort was well saved.

In the final moments Marciano missed the chance to complete his hat-trick. A nice through ball from trialist defender Claudiu Vilcu allowed the striker room but he could only shoot wide.

It was the final chance of a game that the much-changed Barnet side dominated.

There are likely to again be several changes at the weekend as the Bees welcome AL Limassol.

Hitchin Town: Bell; Lench, Rolfe, Frater, Webb, Barker, McGeorge, Donnelly, Charles, Burns, Noone.

Hitchin Town substitutes: King, Hulman, Donnelly, Sagwete, Beckett, Wharton, Gregson, Bickerstaff, Pearson, Lockhart-Adams, Kirkpatrick.

Barnet: Jupp; Vilhete, Vilcu, Brown, Abrahams; Roberto (Abdulla 45), Vose (Warren 56); Allen (Lowe 60), Luisma (Lobjoit 56), Marciano; Sykes (Nurse 60).

Barnet substitutes: Lowe, Nurse, Warren, Abdulla, Lobjoit.

Attendance: 338.