Barnet climbed to the top of the Conference with a comfortable 2-0 success at Southport.

Lee Cook followed up Monday’s hat-trick against Dartford with a superb opener on 25 minutes, beating two defenders before firing in a shot which went over Daniel Lloyd-Weston and dipped under the bar.

John Akinde added a second with a curler just inside the right-hand post six minutes before the break and it already looked a tough road back for the Sandgrounders at the interval.

Charlie MacDonald was a constant threat for the visitors before going off on 68 minutes and Barnet were content to hold onto their lead in the latter stages at a rain-soaked Haig Avenue.

Press Association