After half an hour of Barnet’s FA Cup replay with Chelmsford City you could imagine those who work behind the scene at The Hive were already starting their preparations for a first round tie with Wycombe Wanderers.

There was to be no upset, Martin Allen’s men quickly made sure of that. Barnet may have been held by the Conference South side on Saturday but, after just 30 minutes of tonight’s fourth qualifying round replay, they led 3-0.

John Akinde opened the scoring early on. The powerful striker out-muscled former Bee Mark Hughes, advanced on goal and calmly slotted past Tony Thompson.

A second was added in the 11th minute. It was nothing fancy. A corner was swung into the Chelmsford penalty area, the ball dropped to the feet of David Stephens and he forced his shot through the arms of Thompson and into the corner.

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Barnet were in full control. Luke Gambin - in for Sam Hoskins as the only change from Saturday’s starting XI - caused constant problems.

He often drifted in-between the visitors’ defence and midfield, collected a pass before running straight at the Chelmsford defence. It created space for the Bees which they used intelligently.

But presentable chances were wasted. Bondz N’Gala headed a corner over the crossbar from 12 yards before Andy Yiadom broke into the penalty area and had a deflected shot saved.

However, the Bees grabbed their third with 15 minutes of the opening half remaining. Gambin was the architect as he neatly evaded a challenge before advancing into the penalty area.

A quick look up was swiftly followed by a pass to Curtis Weston and the midfielder swept the ball over Thompson and into the roof of the net.

Allen appeared to decide his side had done enough. N’Gala, who had earlier been booked, was brought off with Jack Saville his replacement.

At the other end, Akinde came close to his second. Gambin delivered a deep cross the powerful striker headed his effort onto the roof of the net.

The game looked over at half time – although Bees fans will have had the memory of Kidderminster Harriers’ comeback from the same scoreline a little over two weeks ago.

Allen made a second change at the interval. Elliot Johnson was replaced by Adam Mekki.

Barnet started the second period poorly and were punished in the 55th minute. Saville misjudged a long pass forward and Joe Ward controlled the ball before he fired past Graham Stack.

The visitors were briefly roused but weren’t able to create another clear opportunity. However, they were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when substitute Jon Nurse appeared to handle in the Bees penalty area.

Barnet’s intensity when they attacked had dropped off in the second period. Luisma Villa whipped a free-kick just over the Chelmsford crossbar but the Spaniard added a fourth soon after.

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The midfielder struck an effort from the edge of the area and the ball was deflected past Thompson. It was Villa’s fifth goal in his last five games.

The goal allowed Barnet to see out the game comfortably. Allen continued to prowl his technical area and shout instructions but the tie was over and the Bees were through.

Wycombe, who currently second in League Two, will undoubtedly offer a sterner test in a little over a week.

But if Barnet can replicate their opening 30 minute salvo against the Chairboys, they’ll have a chance of being in the hat for the second round proper. 

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, Stephens, N'Gala (Saville 32) Vilhete; Johnson (Mekki HT) Togwell; Weston, Villa, Gambin (Nurse 63); Akinde.

Barnet substitutes: Cowler, Gater, Stevens, Taylor.

Chelmsford City: Thompson, Girdlestone, Redwood, Hughes, Haines (Ekpiteta 32), Mambo, Sawyer, Ward, Gordon, Cheek (Callander HT), Smith (Kouassi 73) Chelmsford City substitutes: Morgan, Nicolau, Barham, Freund.

Attendance: 1,294.