Martin Allen’s return to Notts County proved far from triumphant as Barnet were humbled 4-2 by the Magpies with three goals coming in a chaotic five minute spell.

The Bees, a place and a point below their hosts at kick off, have never won at Meadow Lane in the Football League and were troubled time and time again by Notts County’s tendency to break with pace.

Two goal in the first nine minutes set the tone for a forgettable evening on the banks of the River Trent as Mike Edwards and Jon Stead put Ricardo Moniz’s side in control.

Alan Sheehan, a player who spoke of Allen’s unique methods prior to kick off having worked under the current Bees head coach in his first spell at Meadow Lane added a third after the break.

Aaron McLean got his third of the season but a minute later the Magpies rubbed salt in the wounds as Edwards nodded in his second. Luke Gambin got a second consolation at the death for Barnet.

Allen had promised changes in the build-up to the game and duly delivered four of them, handing Reading loanee Jack Stacey his debut and giving Shaun Batt his first league start for the Bees.

Out went Michael Nelson, John Akinde, Gambin and Michael Gash – all dropped to the bench – whilst Sam Togwell and Gavin Hoyte came into the side.

Hoyte started at centre-back alongside Bondz N’Gala as the Bees set up in a 4-5-1 system with Batt the lone forward.

The Magpies, meanwhile, were forced into a late change with Mawouna Amevor injured in the warm-up and replaced by Thierry Audel.

That change didn’t affect Notts County, though, and it was Moniz’s men who took charge of the contest, racing into a 2-0 lead after nine minutes.

It took just six minutes to break the deadlock as Adam Campbell climbed highest at the back post to knock down a Graham Burke delivery for Edwards to turn home from inside the six-yard box.

And three minutes later it was 2-0 as Campbell picked up possession down the left-hand side before unselfishly squaring for the unmarked Stead to rifle home from a central position.

Batt, making his first start since the Football League Trophy defeat at Yeovil Town in September, had been dangerous and won a free-kick after 17 minutes from which Curtis Weston worked former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll at his near post.

That was to be Weston’s last real involvement of note as Gash was introduced, enabling Barnet to switch to a 4-4-2.

Worse could have come for Barnet when Andy Yiadom bundled over former Bee Izale McLeod on the edge of the penalty area as he burst through but the referee opted to caution the right-back only.

Gash’s introduction almost paid off instantly when he helped Jamie Stephens’ long clearance into the path of Batt but he could not find a way past Carroll as the angle diminished.

Barnet had grown into the game as the half wore on but in search of a route back into the game, Allen introduced Gambin in place of the ineffectual Clarke at the break.

But it was Notts County who started the brighter of the two, McLeod firing wide after the impish Campbell rolled the ball to the edge of the area for him to strike.

Minutes later McLeod had his route to goal blocked by Elliott Johnson, halting a flowing move which saw the hosts break in menacing fashion with a succession of slick passes.

With Barnet pushed higher up the field and committing more men forward in an attempt to find a way back into the game, the threat of being caught on the counter only increased.

From a Bees corner, the home side broke again with Campbell warming the gloves of Stephens at his near post.

Substitute McLean had a rare Barnet chance in the 69th minute, forcing Northern Ireland international Carroll to fist away a ferocious 25-yard free-kick which looked destined for the top corner.

Magpies centre-back Sheehan then sparked a mad five minutes in which there were three goals by slotting in from 20 yards from a quick free-kick to make it 3-0 in the 73rd minute.

But, just as Barnet looked to be out of the contest, McLean netted with a free-kick of his own, shooting low under the wall from the right-hand side of the penalty area in the 77th.

A mere 60 seconds after hauling themselves back into the clash, the Bees were out of it against Edwards stooped to head beyond Stephens at the near post from a corner.

Remarkably there was still time for Barnet to pull back a second, Gambin firing home with the aid of a deflection from just inside the penalty area.

Notts County: Carroll; Hewitt, Edwards, Sheehan, Audel; Burke (Murray 74), Smith, Aborah (Noble 43), Campbell; Stead (Snijders 90) McLeod.

Subs: Loach (GK), Milsom, Swerts, Sprockel.

Barnet: Stephens; Yiadom, Hoyte, N'Gala, Johnson; Clarke (Gambin HT), Weston (Gash 30)., Champion, Togwell, Stacey; Batt (McLean 55).

Subs: McKenzie-Lyle (GK), Nelson, Akinde, Muggleton.

Referee: Ross Joyce.

Attendance: 3,098 (199 away supporters).