THIS is one of those games which will go down in Accrington Stanley's recent history.

Everyone else might have been talking about the Burnley-Blackburn FA Cup match the day after but that had nothing on Stanley's stunning display which saw off the runaway Conference leaders with ease.

The Reds showed passion, pride and panache to overrun the jittery Bees who have now lost three games on the trot - and some are wondering if they will blow it big style after topping the table by 15 points.

Stanley, meanwhile, seem to go from strength to strength. February had been pitched as a tricky task for John Coleman's side but so far promotion rivals Scarborough, Exeter and Barnet have been swept away as the Reds made it five wins out of their last six Conference games and are the form team in the league.

Reds manager Coleman refused to get too carried away although he must have been elated inside that his side could look so special and make the promotion favourites look so ordinary.

"I'm not too happy we conceded the goal as it would have been nice to win 4-0," said the Reds boss.

But then, when he looked back on the memorable performance, he couldn't help but delight in his side's show.

"Maybe the penny has dropped for us now. We can play like that every week, I know we can. Barnet are a good side but going forward we are as good as anyone in the league - we've had problems with balls going in at the other end.

"But we were magnificent. We chased everything, we scored some great goals and could have had some more, their keeper has made some great saves and we have played some great football.

"Last week at Exeter we dug in and battled and got three points through sheer hard work and not a lot of flair. This time, there was great passing, great shooting and solid defending. It was the overall package. It was a great performance."

And that was echoed by the Stanley fans who never stopped singing or cheering - and were pinching themselves that their team overcame the threat of the leaders so easily.

Barnet started confidently enough, forcing an early corner which Simon King headed over with 40 seconds gone while Liam Hatch fired wide on eight minutes.

But then Stanley's hero Lee McEvilly made sure he kicked off what was to be a stunning display. The former Rochdale striker has been in top form in the last six games and his bustling performances have helped Stanley become match-winners.

And he showed Barnet's defence little respect as he dinked the ball past Ismail Yakubu in the left hand side of the penalty area and squeezed the ball beyond Scott Tynan - who had a trial at Stanley pre-season - for his 13th goal of the season and 17th in all competitions.

Rory Prendergast began to be his usual tricky self on the wing while McEvilly continued to be a threat but curled one effort just wide of goal.

And the defence also almost got in on the scoring act with Mike Flynn having a header touched over by Tynan and Robbie Williams rifling goalwards a fierce shot from a corner which the Bees goalie did well to keep out.

This didn't mean Paul Crichton wasn't involved as he did superbly well to keep out the livewire Hatch twice.

But Stanley ran the show and, two minutes before the break, McEvilly almost doubled the advantage when he stung Tynan's hands with a 20-yard free kick and Mullin was unlucky not to convert the return ball in as he headed it over from a tight angle.

Stanley were out early after the break and looked up for the second half as they continued in the same vein.

McEvilly's effort was blocked by King, Tynan kept out Prendergast from close range and Steve Jagielka came close to what Coleman said "would have been the goal of the century."

Jagielka broke, raced half the length of the pitch and burst into the area only for Tynan to push his effort out. It would have been a stunning goal - although the unmarked Steve Flitcroft was screaming for him to pass.

Flynn then had a header cleared off the line by Yakubu before they finally got the deserved second on 55 minutes. It came from a superb Chris Butler ball forward which found Prendergast and he volleyed home from 15 yards out for his fifth of the season.

And Jagielka was then denied by Tynan a minute later after he shot on the turn.

Barnet came close to getting one back when Hatch got on the end of a corner but Crichton pushed his header onto the crossbar and the rebound was well over the goal.

"It was a crucial save at the time," said Coleman.

Bees boss Paul Fairclough then decided he had to do something and went three at the back. This, though, only left his side exposed. A visiting attack broke down, Jagielka had the vision to see McEvilly on the half way line and the striker and Paul Mullin worked a neat one-two up the field before Mullin finished superbly beyond the diving Tynan.

One minute later and the keeper was picking the ball out of the net again when Jagielka burst through and forced another stunning save from Tynan but he could only push the ball out to sub Ian Craney who accepted it gleefully and stroked the ball home.

Barnet's top scorer Guiliano Grazioli hasn't been having the best of luck in front of goal recently but he was left unmarked to finish well on 85 minutes and take his tally to 20 Conference goals for the season.

But, it wasn't over as Paul Howarth fired narrowly wide and Prendergast had a breakaway goal ruled out for off-side in injury time as Stanley secured a memorable win.

And come May, it could be even more memorable if Stanley succeed in their charge for Football League status.