Martin Wild reports from Underhill

Barnet: Rob Beckwith, Kenny Gillet, Ismail Yakubu, Joe Devera, Sagi Burton, Albert Adomah, Neal Bishop, Josh Wright (Porter, 86), Jason Puncheon, Adam Birchill (Thomas, 82), Cliff Akurang (Grazioli, 82)

Substitutes: Lee Harrison, Nicky Nicolau, Anthony Thomas, Guilano Grazioli, Max Porter

Town: Glyn Garner, Ben Herd (Humphrey, 46), James Meredith, Kelvin Langmead, Marc Tierney, Darren Moss, Asa Hall, Kevin McIntyre (Hunt,74), Ben Davies (capt), Guy Madjo (Hibbert, 69), James Constable

Substitutes: David Hunt, Scott Bevan, Chris Humphrey, Colin Murdock, Dave Hibbert

Referee: K D Hill (Hertfordshire)

Assistant referees: N Radford, A Slaughter

Fourth Official: J P Magill

Attendance: 1,864 (352 away)

Gary Peters makes just one change to the side for the trip to Underhill, with captain Ben Davies being recalled in place of Marc Pugh who is omitted from the squad. Colin Murdock and top scorer Dave Hibbert both return from suspension having missed last weeks home defeat to local rivals Hereford, but both have to settle for places on the bench.

The visitors gained an early advantage in the North London sunshine, just seconds after Davies had been denied by a smart stop from home keeper Rob Beckwith. Guy Madjo won an individual battle with ex-Town man Sagi Burton and his effort from the edge of the box looked to have taken a slight deflection off Ismail Yakubu before looping up over Beckwith with just ten minutes on the clock.

It wasn't the best start to the month of March for Paul Fairclough's men who endured a torrid time during February losing all of their five league games. But they levelled the scores within six minutes when a decent cross from Jason Puncheon eluded Kelvin Langmead at the heart of the Town defence, leaving Cliff Akurang with the simplest of tasks from just inside the six-yard box.

Minutes later Langmead's header fell for the splendidly named Albert Adomah whose momentum had carried him forward and his right footed effort fizzed just wide of Glyn Garner's upright.

Although Barnet's recent form has caused them to slip down the division and left them looking nervously over their shoulders, they had already posted impressive away victories at MK Dons & Hereford during 2008. The loss of striker Liam Hatch to Peterborough appears to have nullified their goal threat somewhat.

Midway through the half, Garner had to back-pedal to tip over a long range effort from goalscorer Akurang following good link-up play with Adomah. The corner was cleared but the home side were in the ascendancy as the Shrews had been forced into mounting a rearguard action since taking the lead.

After a brief lull, the Bees went in front just after the half-hour mark. Adomah ran at the heart of the Town defence and was able to squeeze the ball past a helpless Garner from the right side of the penalty area.

It had been a rather nervy showing from Shrewsbury against a team that had lost their last four home games in all competitions. Indeed, only Bury and Macclesfield have recorded fewer home wins in the division.

Right on the half-time whistle Josh Wright got Adomah in and he doubled his tally to extend Barnet's advantage when he again went past statuesque defenders and slammed the ball home. Town were now looking at having to claw their way back into the game having recorded only one win all season from a losing position. That task appeared mountainous to say the least with only one win recorded since Boxing Day.

It was certainly the home support who were the happier as they disappeared under the stands for their half-time cuppas.

H-T: 3-1

Chris Humphrey replaced Ben Herd at the interval which saw Darren Moss move to a more familiar right-back position and the young winger take his place out wide on the right.

Barnet's supremacy was confirmed on 54 minutes when Akurang scored his second of the afternoon taking advantage of a bouncing ball in the area to make it 4-1 from close range. Once again, questions were being asked of the visitor's defence as the ball ought to have been cleared before presenting the Barnet man with his opportunity.

It was the third time in this long, frustrating season that the side had shipped four goals in a league game with Rochdale and Bradford the other beneficiaries. With more than half an hour to go damage limitation appeared to be the order of the day, not at all what had been expected at kick-off time.

Akurang should have completed his hat-trick with just over 20 minutes left but put a relatively straight forward header into the grateful arms of Garner, and then was denied again seconds later as Marc Tierney blocked at the back post with the hosts pushing for a fifth goal.

Peters made his third change with David Hunt replacing Kevin McIntyre who had just been shown a yellow card. Town showed little as an attacking force and looked a dejected outfit as the game petered out with the home side comfortable winners with just a late Davies free-kick testing Beckwith. The 352 who had made the long trip South in support of their heroes deserved better for their show of loyalty than to be left ironically cheering throw-ins and the one corner the side could muster in the second period. But this is a season that may not yet be over as focus shifts towards the drop zone. The team needs to start scrapping for their lives if they are not to get caught up in a spring time relegation dogfight. It could still be a bumpy ride!

F-T: 4-1