Notts County made it three wins from four home games with a 2-0 victory over Barnet this afternoon.

A superb chip by Matt Hamshaw opened the scoring at Meadow Lane two minutes before the break and Jamie Clapham's fine free-kick just after the hour ensured the points were Notts.

To cap off a good afternoon for County Richard Butcher and Adam Tann made their first-team returned after long spells on the sidelines with injury.

Ian McParland handed a first-ever League start to young striker Ben Fairclough for the visit of the Bees in place of eight-goal Jamie Forrester, who failed to win his fitness battle to shake off a toe problem.

Young Nat Wedderburn, on loan from Stoke, was also handed a starting berth in place of Adam Nowland in central midfield. After sustaining a hamstring injury two weeks ago against Chesterfield Nowland was only considering fit enough for a place on the bench.

He was joined amongst the substitutes by midfield duo Gavin Strachan and Richard Butcher after long-term injuries.

The game got underway with Notts attacking towards the Victoria Centre Kop Stand in the first half, and they were almost treated to an early goal but Jamie Clapham's low drive from outside the box whistled just wide.

Goalmouth action was limited early on, but Notts were enjoying a little more of the ball and were looking lively going forwards.

The quick-footed Fairclough was playing on the shoulders of Yakubu and Breen and always looking to get in behind the backline with his pace, and twice he forced Yakubu to make last-gasp interventions when advancing towards Harrison's goal.

He came even closer on twenty-five minutes with a close-range effort that thundered back off the bar from Weston's cross, but the offside flag was raised and if he had found the net the goal wouldn't have stood.

Weston was tightly marked by Devera down the left throughout, but when the 20-year-old did get away down the wing he was able to provide a number of fine crosses that put the Barnet defence on the back foot.

Notts did make the breakthrough two minutes before the break however, and when it did come it was a moment of class from Matty Hamshaw that broke the deadlock.

A long ball forwards wasn't dealt with by the Bees defence at all and with Harrison stranded way off his line Hamshaw produced the most delicate of chips from twenty-two yards to lift the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.

The goal was Hamshaw's second of the season and his first at Meadow Lane since his summer move from Mansfield.

It was the final action of the first half, and a huge confident boost for the Magpies to go in at the interval a goal to the good.

Barnet started the second half looking for a quick response and Porter replaced Yakubu at the back.

Bolasise headed wide from Adomah's cross nine minutes into the second half with, in all honesty, Barnet's first attempt at goal when he should really have done better from ten yards out.

At the other end a superb Notts move down the right created a chance for Facey but his goalbound header was blocked on the line by Devera.

Hamshaw and Picken combined superbly down the right to send Hamshaw scampering away down the wing and his pin-point cross found Facey unmarked six yards out but Devera got some part of his body in the way and Barnet survived.

But, with their next opportunity, Notts did make it 2-0. Fairclough was fouled on the edge of the box and free-kick specialist Jamie Clapham stepped up to superbly curl the ball into the top left-hand corner of Harrison's goal. Sublime stuff - another great goal.

Notts were playing with a spring in their step; Barnet meanwhile looked demoralised.

With the game seemingly over Ian McParland felt the time was right to introduce Richard Butcher back into the action after almost three months out with a metatarsal injury. He replaced Ben Fairclough who left the field to a standing ovation.

With just over ten minutes to go McParland a comeback to a second player after a long-term layoff; this time it was the turn of Adam Tann to make his return four months after sustaining a knee injury against Macclesfield in place of Michael Johnson.

McParland's men were always looking to add to their tally and Butcher could have marked his return with a goal when one-on-one with Harrison, but the goalkeeper stayed tall and won the battle by blocking Butcher's effort with his legs.

Sean Canham replaced Facey for the final few minutes with time ebbing away - and with three points in the bag Notts will be desperate to secure back-to-back wins on Tuesday when they visit Macclesfield Town.

Full Time: Notts County 2-0 Barnet

Notts County: Lillis, Picken, Edwards (C), Johnson (Tann 78), Clapham, Hamshaw, Wedderburn, Thompson, Weston, Facey (Canham 87), Fairclough (Butcher 67)
Subs Not Used: Nowland, Strachan
Booked: None
Sent Off: None
Goals: Hamshaw (43), Clapham (62)

Barnet: Harrison Devera, Bishop (C), Yakubu (Porter 46), Adomah, Lockwood, Hughes, Breen, Furlong (Birchall 67), O'Flynn, Bolasie (Akurang 85)
Subs Not Used: Deverdics, Kadoch
Booked None
Sent Off: None
Goals: None

Match Referee: Mr D Webb

Attendance: 3,830 (176 Barnet Fans)