Scott Sinclair's superb second-half strike helped Plymouth ease past Barnet and into the FA Cup fifth round.

The League Two side may have ousted Colchester in round three but they failed to emulate that feat against Coca-Cola Championship opposition as Argyle struck twice in the final 23 minutes.

Hasney Aljofree had already handed Argyle the lead with a coolly-taken penalty before Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, jinked past several defenders and despatched a low drive past goalkeeper Ross Flitney seven minutes from time.

Paul Fairclough's plucky Barnet gave a good account of themselves and enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked the composure and quality to trouble Argyle at Underhill.

The Bees faced Argyle without a cluster of first-team regular but were marshalled in midfield by the evergreen Andy Hessenthaler, while veteran duo Barr Hayles and Kevin Gallen spearheaded the Plymouth attack.

Early on, Argyle were unfazed by the notorious sloping pitch at Underhill as they looked to seize the initiative, Lilian Nalis trying his luck from 35 yards but failing to call Flitney into action.

The hosts did well to contain Ian Holloway's fast-improving side after a frenetic opening few minutes but looked lightweight going forward despite Hessenthaler stamping his mark on the game with several timely challenges.

At 41, Hessenthaler is the oldest outfield player in the Football League and showed plenty to suggest he could prolong his retirement further in a low-key first half hour in which neither side could muster a genuine goalscoring opportunity.

Hayles drilled a well-struck shot over as Argyle threatened to spark the game into life while, at the other end, goalkeeper Luke McCormick had to react quickly to keep out a looping Flitney header after he rose well to meet Joe Devera's cross.

Five minutes before the interval, Akos Buzsaky saw his dangerous set piece saved by Flitney after Simon King clumsily felled Hayles and the sides went in level at half-time.

Barnet emerged galvanised after the restart and enjoyed plenty of possession but again struggled to create chances in the final third.

Buzsaky, buoyed by three goals in his last three outings, continued to look lively and shot over from distance before Holloway opted to introduce Sinclair in what proved to be an inspired substitution.

It was McCormick, however, who was the busier of the two goalkeepers and he instinctively reacted quickly to keep out Adam Birchall's rasping drive shortly after before Argyle finally made the breakthrough after 67 minutes.

Devera upended David Norris in the penalty area and Aljofree held his nerve to coolly drill the resulting spot-kick low past Flitney as the former Bolton trainee added to the goal he scored earlier in the tournament against Peterborough.

Argyle looked more assured after taking the lead, and could have added a second shortly after as Norris created some space but his angled drive was parried by Flitney and Ismail Yakubu was on hand to hack the ball to safety.

Sinclair then took centre stage as he comfortably beat two defenders before slotting the ball past the advancing Flitney to notch the first goal of his senior career and help Plymouth progress into round five.

Teams:

Barnet Flitney, Devera (Allen 89), Yakubu, King, Nicolau,Cogan (Hatch 71), Bailey, Hessenthaler, Graham, Puncheon,Birchall.

Subs Not Used: Jaimez-Ruiz, Warhurst, Charles.

Booked: Devera, Bailey.

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Aljofree, Seip, Capaldi, Norris,Buzsaky (Summerfield 64), Nalis, Halmosi (Sinclair 60), Hayles,Gallen.

Subs Not Used: Hodges, Timar, Gosling.

Booked: Aljofree, Capaldi.

Goals: Aljofree 67 pen, Sinclair 83.

Att: 5,204

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).