Darren Currie praised Dave Tarpey after the striker’s long-awaited first Barnet goal earned a vital 1-0 victory over high-flying Harrogate Town last night.

After Saturday’s goalless draw against Hartlepool United had extended the Bees’ winless run to four games, the victory moved Currie’s side up to 17th in the table and seven points clear of the drop zone with at least two games in hand on all the clubs around them.

Tarpey’s goal, which secured just a second league win of 2019 for Barnet, arrived in the 30th minute and rounded off a good move involving Shaq Coulthirst and Ephron Mason-Clark.

Currie praised the quality of the build-up and felt the goal was due reward for the striker’s recent efforts.

He told the club website: “I’m really pleased for Tarps because he’s run himself into the ground in the last two or three games and not much has fallen to him.

“He got a great little cut back pass from Ephron, a great through ball from Shaq originally and then it’s fallen to Tarps and it’s a brilliant technique, a brilliant finish. I’m pleased for the team, pleased for everyone at the club, but really pleased for Tarps.”

Currie also felt the victory over sixth-placed Town rewarded his players’ efforts to improve their effectiveness in the final third.

He said: “What’s pleasing is the work we’re doing and they are trying, this is why I have to give the boys credit. We’re giving them information and we’re doing some work on the training pitch and they’re trying to take it on board and the goal’s the highlight of some of the work we’ve been doing of late.

“Without getting greedy, I’m maybe just a tiny bit frustrated we haven’t converted one or two more during the game, but we’ll take a 1-0 and it’s a very good goal.”

Currie named an unchanged side from Saturday’s draw and Tarpey had some encouraging moments before scoring, sending a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over before his cross found the head of Mason-Clark, who forced the keeper into an unorthodox save.

But the breakthrough was made when Coulthirst played a through ball over the top to Mason-Clark, who then laid it back for Tarpey to finish first time into the top corner.

The visitors had the first opportunity of the second half when a dipping free-kick was latched onto by Warren Burrell, but he was unable to beat Mark Cousins.

Barnet had opportunities to make their victory more comfortable though, with Wes Fonguck seeing a curling effort deflected away from danger, while Coulthirst headed a cross narrowly wide.

The Bees face another promotion-chasing side on Saturday when they visit Salford City before they return to the Hive on Tuesday to face Aldershot Town.