Those two wins, in the 2000-01 and 2012-13 seasons
respectively, both played a crucial role in helping the Gulls retain their
Football League status.
In 2001, they travelled to Underhill - under the guidance of
Colin Lee - and raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of a 25-yarder from Jason
Rees and a header from Kevin Hill.
The Bees were then awarded a penalty after Jimmy Aggrey was
adjudged to have handled the ball, but Gulls keeper Stuart Jones guessed
correctly and saved Darren Currie’s spot-kick.
David Graham then increased Torquay’s lead to three shortly
before the half-time break before Barnet fought back in the second half thanks
to a Ryan Green own goal and a Wayne Purser effort.
12 years later, the Gulls defeated the Bees by the same
score line at Plainmoor to seal a win that played a major part in helping their
survival cause.
Elliot Benyon gave Torquay a first half lead, which was cancelled out by a Jake Hyde equalised for Barnet, who were then managed by former Dutch star Edgar Davids.
Billy Bodin and Brian Saah then increased the Gulls’ lead to
two goals before Hyde struck again to complete his brace, but they couldn’t
find an equaliser as Torquay took a massive step towards securing their League
Two status.
Whereas those results helped United to beat the drop, this
latest triumph at the Hive - Barnet’s current home since 2013 - could prove to be
the catalyst which gets their attempt to win promotion from the Vanarama
Conference back on track.
The win ends a run of four successive defeats in all competitions, and a run of six losses in seven competitive fixtures.
Louis Briscoe opened the scoring for United before Ryan
Bowman appeared to have doubled their advantage, but his effort was later
accredited to Bees keeper- and former Plymouth Argyle custodian- Graham Stack
to give the Gulls a two-goal advantage going into the half-time break.
Spanish substitute Luisma Villa then pulled a goal back for
the hosts before Briscoe completed his brace on 65 minutes with his sixth of
the campaign, which puts level with Luke Young as United’s leading goal scorer,
to restore their two-goal cushion.
Another Bees’ sub Bernard Mensah reduced their deficit to a
single goal, but the Gulls’ defence held firm and Toby Ajala and Duane
Ofori-Acheampong could have added to their tally late in the game.
Next up for the Gulls is a home clash with fellow Play-off
chasers Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.
