Whites moved off the bottom of the National League on Tuesday night after a convincing win over relegation rivals Barnet.

In wet and muddy conditions, Andy Hessenthaler’s men were 3-0 up at the break thanks to Will De Havilland’s early double and Ahkeem Rose’s fine volley.

Substitute Michael Petrasso pulled a goal back on the hour mark for The Bees, but the hosts held on for their first win of 2021 as they leapfrogged their hosts in the table.

Both sides had early chances, with ex-White Alfie Pavey seeing his early effort tipped wide by Dover keeper Oliver Webber, before Rose dragged his shot narrowly wide at the other end.

It was the home side who struck first when Ryan Hanson’s floated free-kick was inadvertently flicked into path of the lying-in-wait De Havilland, with the defender making no mistake from close range.

Centre-back De Havilland doubled his tally for the game and the season two minutes later, firing in after Sam Wood’s corner was played into a dangerous area.

Whites then added a third with 10 minutes of the half remaining when Rose gave visiting stopper Scott Loach no chance with an accurate volley from the edge of the penalty area.

Petrasso pulled a goal back for The Bees on the hour mark, bundling the ball in the net after connecting to a cross, however Whites held firm as the conditions worsened, almost adding a fourth on two occasions in the final 10 minutes.

First Rose tried to chip Loach from distance, but the Barnet keeper, already out of the penalty area, was able to head the ball away, before Ade Azeez’s shot was deflected onto the post from Barnet’s number one.

The win moves Whites to within seven points of safety ahead of their next league match, a crunch clash away to Yeovil Town, who sit one place above the relegation zone.

Hessenthaler made four changes to the side that lost against Solihull three days earlier, with Wood, Travis Gregory, Marvel Ekpiteta and Azeez coming in for TJ Bramble, Marshall Wratten, Jack Munns and Bayli Spencer-Adams, with the latter returning to parent club Watford earlier in the week.