Callum Stead scored five times, with four first-half goals in 24 minutes, as Barnet beat Gillingham at The Hive.
Sullivan Booth scored on his professional debut and assisted a late consolation for Josh Andrews.
Booth made his first professional start, as Gareth Ainsworth made four changes to the starting XI that lost against Grimsby Town. Andy Smith, Harry Waldock and Robbie McKenzie also came into the side.
Sam Gale and Seb Palmer-Houlden missed the fixture due to injury, as did Remeao Hutton, while Lenni Cirino and Nelson Khumbeni dropped to the bench.
Stead headed Barnet in front after six minutes. Anthony Hartigan went short with his corner, giving it to Ryan Glover. He was afforded the time to set himself before curling a cross into the box, finding Stead, who rose the highest to send his header into the back of the net.
In the 13th minute, Booth brought the Gills back on level terms. Armani Little did well to win possession inside the Barnet half before playing the ball into Ronan Hale’s feet. He spotted Bradley Dack, who had peeled away into the space on the right-hand side. Dack did well to play the ball across the face of the six-yard box for Booth, who came sliding in to convert from a couple of yards out.
The hosts restored their lead moments later. Stead blocked an attempted clearance, with the loose ball allowing Kabongo Tshimanga to go through on goal. He waited for Stead to come up in support before laying it off to the forward to score his second.
Stead completed his hat-trick immediately following the restart. Romoney Crichlow received the ball inside the penalty area and did well to get beyond a defender before passing it inside for Stead, who swept the ball past Glenn Morris.
Idris Kanu nearly added a fourth when he hit the outside of the post. Danny Collinge made a run into the box, evading a couple of challenges before playing it over to Kanu, who was in space on the left. He tried placing it into the bottom left corner, but it took a slight deflection, guiding it onto the outside of the woodwork.
In the 24th minute, Booth nearly scored his second. Max Clark played the ball inside for Dack, who did well to turn past a defender before threading the ball through for the 17-year-old to get in behind. He looked like he had just Cieran Slicker to beat, but a defender recovered in time to provide a key sliding block to prevent Booth from slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
Stead scored his fourth of the afternoon after half an hour. He was able to get into the box before bundling the ball home from around six yards out.
In the 41st minute, Morris denied Mark Shelton. Kanu made his way down the left-hand side before centring the ball for Shelton, who was in space. He thumped goalward, but it was straight at Morris, who pushed it clear.
The Gills goalkeeper had to be alert to keep out Adam Senior’s attempt, as he got on the end of Glover’s cross. He did well to save with his feet before gathering the loose ball.
Crichlow added a fifth on the stroke of half-time. Glover received the ball short from a corner and had plenty of time to set himself before crossing the ball, finding the defender, who rose the highest to thump a header home.
HALF-TIME: Barnet 5-1 Gillingham
Gills made three changes at the break, as Travis Akomeah, Josh Andrews and Jonny Williams replaced Conor Masterson, Garath McCleary and Waldock.
In the 70th minute, Phillip Chinedu made his way towards the penalty area before shooting. However, the ball was deflected behind for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Stead scored his fifth. Kane Smith’s delivery was curled in from the left, dropping to Stead, who poked it home from six yards out.
Moments later, Gills made a fourth change, with Khumbeni replacing Dack.
Morris had to push Crichlow’s attempt away as the hosts continued to apply pressure. The ball was played out to the defender on the edge of the box, who brought it under control before thumping goalward, but Morris had it covered.
Shelton thought he had made it seven in added time, but it was ruled out for an offside. A cross into the penalty area ricocheted around the box before coming to Shelton, who thumped a first-time low drive into the bottom left corner. However, it was ruled out for a player standing in an offside position during the ricochet.
Andrews scored with the final kick of the game. Booth had the ball on the right and did well to get past a defender before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot for Andrews to sweep across into the far bottom corner.
FULL-TIME: Barnet 6-2 Gillingham
Barnet: Slicker, Collinge (K. Smith 66’), Senior, Stead (Hawkins 83’), Kanu (Chinedu 67’), Glover, Hartigan (Winterburn 67’), Shelton, Tshimanga (Jaiyesimi 67’), Crichlow, Tavares
Unused Substitutes: Evans, Ofoborh
Gillingham: Morris, McKenzie, A. Smith, Masterson (Akomeah 46’), Clark, Little, Waldock (J. Williams 46’), McCleary (Andrews 46’), Dack (Khumbeni 73’), Booth, Hale
Unused Substitutes: Turner, Cirino, Vokes
Referee: Ollie Yates
Attendance: 3704 (1078 Gills supporters)
