Adam Birchall bagged two second-half goals to extend Barnet's unbeaten run to five matches and lift them above Bury with a 3-0 home win.The former Arsenal youngster broke the deadlock in Saturday's League Two clash at Underhill in the 57th minute and added his 15th of the season 20 minutes from time before Cliff Akurang grabbed a late third.

But had Bury taken their chances before the break, they could have been out of sight as they squandered a succession of opportunities.

The Shakers' first chance came after three minutes when on-loan Stoke striker Adam Rooney headed straight at Lee Harrison from close range. In the 11th minute, Elliott Bennett crossed for Rooney but he shot tamely at Harrison, while the Shakers did have the ball in the net seven minutes later but Andy Bishop's cool finish was ruled out for offside.

And Bury were made to pay for missing their chances when Birchall latched onto poor defending and flicked the ball beyond Jim Provett for his 14th goal of the season.

Birchall was at it again soon after when Jason Puncheon's cross found him unmarked in the box and he slammed in from six yards. Birchall was denied a hat-trick seven minutes from time by a brilliant Provett save but Akurang finished off the rebound to seal the win.

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