Rochdale 0 Barnet 2

Coca-Cola League Two

Barnet produced one of their best displays of a mixed season to beat in-form Rochdale at Spotland on Easter Monday.

Playing arguably his strongest team, manager Paul Fairclough will have been delighted with the understanding between strikers Adam Birchall and Liam Hatch.

But it was a midfielder, Barry Cogan, who was most influential, scoring the first and setting up Dean Sinclair for the second. After weathering early Rochdale pressure during which keeper Lee Harrison made one outstanding save, the Bees began to get on top, and on 24 minutes took the lead.

Birchall, whose running in the channels is a feature of his game, received the ball on the left wing from Nicky Nicolau. With the Rochdale defence threadbare, Birchall picked out the unmarked Cogan, who slotted the ball past Matthew Gilks in the home goal with a measured finish from eight yards.

Nine minutes later, Cogan, who joined the Bees earlier in the season from Millwall, turned provider. He crossed early from the right, his pin-point ball picking out Sinclair for a diving header at the far post. Gilks again stood no chance.

The ever-willing Hatch and Birchall both had chances to extend Barnet's lead before half-time, and eight minutes after the break Hatch ought to have made the game safe for Barnet, but his toe-poke sailed just over the bar. If Hatch had as much talent in front of goal as he does heart, he would be a world-beater.

One player who undoubtedly has sufficient talent is winger Jason Puncheon.

He was effective only in spurts here, most notably on 54 minutes when his low drive across goal was palmed to safety by Gilks.

With former Bee John Doolan running Rochdale's midfield, the home side came back into the game for the last half hour. They found Simon King again resolute at the heart of Barnet's defence, ably assisted by fellow centre-half Ismail Yakubu.

Rochdale thought they had pulled a goal back moments from the end, but Glenn Murray's goal' was ruled out for a push on Yakubu.

It was nothing less than the Bees deserved, and in truth they should have had the game wrapped up well before a couple of late scares.

This impressive win was only Barnet's fourth victory on the road this season.

If their away form was anywhere near as good as their home form they would be in the play-off places by now.