IN-STEAD, IT'S AN UGLY WIN THIS TIME FOR LEADERS BEES

Callum keeps up the title charge

- David Bloomfield

TWO goals from Callum Stead both exquisitely crafted individual strikes - saw leaders Barnet comfortably see off the challenge of Gateshead with some ease, although a late goal back from Jovan Malcolm did give the visitors a faint hope that they could nick a point.

Malcolm's strike reduced the deficit to a solitary goal, but Stead's second in the fifth minute of time added on extinguished the visitors' hopes and restored the scoreline to reflect the disparity between the teams.

Victory maintained the Bees' 11-point lead at the top - not that boss Dean Brennan was completely satisfied.

"It is a sign of a good side to win a football match when they are not playing well," he said. "We won, that's the main thing, but we were sloppy in our play, our mindset.