Izale McLeod hit a first-half brace to earn Barnet three valuable points at Underhill this afternoon.

The striker started a game from kick off for the first time and wasted no time in showing his class.

The Bees only created two chances in the first period, but McLeod put them both away.

It was the sort of finishing Barnet have been craving from a striker in recent years.

Barnet boss Mark Stimson made three changes to the side that lost to Oxford United last week.

McLeod came in for Kevin Gallen up front, while Ricky Holmes replaced midfielder Mark Hughes.

There was also a start for Sam Cox, who was preferred to Jordan Parkes.

Glenn Poole made a return from injury by earning a place on the bench.

Accrington had the first chance of the match, but Ian Craney's curling free-kick did not overly trouble keeper Jake Cole.

It was the visitors who started the better and Cole had to push out a Joe Jacobson drive soon after.

However, with their first chance of the game, the Bees struck on 12 minutes.

George Francomb threaded a ball into the path of McLeod and he drilled it low past keeper Ian Dunbavin.

Terry Gornell hit a speculative drive over the bar for Accrington midway through the half, an indication that they were not yet out of it.

In fact, they continued to look the better team, Andy Proctor also just wide with a shot from a central position and Gornell dragging another chance wide of the post.

But, once again, on the break, Barnet hit a second in first-half stoppage time and it was that Francomb and McLeod combination again.

Francomb broke clear and raced into the Stanley half before freeing McLeod. The latter drove towards goal and smashed the ball past Dunbavin for his second of the game, a goal that was even better than the first.

McLeod almost completed his hat-trick early in the second half, but his powerful half-volley was pushed behind by Dunbavin.

At the other end, Cole pulled off a fine stop, pushing out a low Gornell shot on the turn.

Both sides struggled to create chances in the second half, though Craney was just wide for the visitors with ten minutes to go.

Sub Rory Boulding should also have done better with just Cole to beat, but he also put his effort wide of the target.

Accrington's day was summed up in stoppage time, when a Sean Hessey thunderbolt rattled the bar, denying them at least a consolation.

BARNET (4-4-2): Cole; Francomb, Basey, Uddin (Kamdjo 50), Devera; Holmes (Vilhete 65), Cox, Southam, Marshall; Kabba, McLeod (C Stimson 90). Subs not used: Coulton (GK), Parkes, Poole, Gallen.