Oxford City 0-2 Barnet FC ( att : 979 ) – 2023/24 National League

October 28, 2023

Preamble

Today’s match at Court Place Farm saw the visit of promotion chasing Barnet with both sides in need of the points. 

 

Barnet started the day in second position, two points behind leaders Chesterfield, but having played one game more, and on an unbeaten run of 8 matches since a 2-4 reversal at Rochdale. Their only other loss this season was at struggling Dagenham and Redbridge, going down 0-1, and in their most recent outing, they needed a 97^th minute equaliser to claim a 1-1 draw at home to Solihull Moors. In the FA Cup they needed a replay to get past National League South Aveley, and now have a trip to mid-table National League North side Curzon Ashton in the First Round Proper.

Since these diaries covered Oxford City’s 3-0 victory over AFC Fylde, they have suffered 1-3 league defeats at Bromley and Wealdstone to slip back into the bottom four, and exited the FA Cup to Scarborough Athletic after losing a home replay to a goal in the last minute. More worrying though has been the ever-growing injury list, with 7 regulars missing those two away defeats.

Barnet History

Barnet hold in a unique record in winning the Conference/National League three times to be promoted to the Football League but have also been relegated a record three times to return to the National League, where they have been since the 2018/19 season. They were reprieved from relegation in 2020/21 due to there being no promotion from National League South and North due to their seasons being cancelled due to Covid, but they made the promotion play-offs last season with a 5^th place finish.

Barnet were original members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and under the controversial guidance of manager Barry Fry and owner Stan Flashman they secured promotion to the Football League for the 1991/92 season. Promotion to the Third Division was achieved at the second attempt, at which point Fry left to take over at Southend United, and financial problems saw virtually all of the squad that had earned promotion leave the club.

A cobbled together squad predictably came bottom as Barnet were relegated back to the Fourth Division. Relegation out of the league followed in 1999/2000 in a bizarre season when John Still, who took them from the upper reaches of the table, was replaced by ex-West Ham star Tony Cottee, who led Barnet to the bottom of the league.

Barnet bounced back under Paul Fairclough to regain their place in the Football League for 2005/06. Lawrie Sanchez, Martin Allen and Dutch legend Edgar Davids all had spells in charge and despite Davids being player-manager, he couldn’t prevent the drop at the end of 2012/13.

Martin Allen returned for his fourth stint as manager to guide Barnet to the 2014/15 Conference title and back to the Football League. The manager’s seat in Barnet’s next spell in the fourth level resembled a revolving door as Kevin Nugent, Mark McGhee, Graham Westley and Allen ( again ) all took turns in the hot seat, culminating in Barnet losing their place in the league at the end of 2017/18.

Barnet used to play at Underhill, which was notorious for its slope, but in 2013 the club moved to The Hive stadium in Canon’s Park, Edgeware, approximately 6 miles away.

I have never visited either of Barnet’s two stadiums, although I have played at Barnet Cricket Club, whose ground was behind the stand at the end of one of the goals at Underhill, and of course had a sloping pitch !

However, I can recall watching Barnet on at least four occasions, the first of which was in 1976/77 when they visited Crawley for a Southern League Division One South match on an icy pitch in January. Barnet lost only three times all season as they romped to the league title, and this was the last of them as in front of a crowd of 532 they were defeated 2-3. The Barnet side that day included ex-Arsenal double winning full-back Bob McNab and ex-Chelsea centre-half Marvin Hinton.

 

The three other times I watched Barnet were all in their disastrous 1993/94 season, which included another trip to Crawley, this time for a Second Round FA Cup tie in front of the Match Of The Day cameras, and at the time a record attendance for Crawley of 4,104. Zeke Rowe, on loan from Chelsea, opened the scoring for Barnet with a smart overhead kick from close range, and Carl Hoddle, brother of Glenn, sent a 25 yard effort curling into the top corner past the motionless keeper, leading to the BBC commentator to declare “Hoddle by Name, Hoddle by Nature”. I think Carl only score one other goal that season. Despite a late goal for Crawley, Barnet, who also had Gary Phillips and Brian Marwood in their starting XI, held onto win 2-1.

 

Earlier in the season, prior to the game at Crawley, I had taken the bus from where I was living in West London to see the battle of the Bees at Griffin Park, as Brentford won a turgid Division Three game 1-0 thanks to a strike from Joe Allon. The final game from that season was a Christmas fixture at the Goldstone Ground where this time Brighton won an unmemorable match 1-0 in front of their highest crowd of the season ( 10,153 ) from which I noted on the programme that Ian Chapman was the goal-scorer.

 

Barnet Players

Perhaps the most notable name in the Barnet squad this season is ex-Celtic, Norwich and Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Hooper, who came off the bench against Solihull to score his first goal for the club since joining earlier in October. The 35 year-old had in recent years been playing for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League, Kerela Blasters in the Indian Premier League, Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia & Gulf United in the UAE.

Barnet’s one current international is Sierra Leone forward Idris Kanu ( 2 caps ), who has previously played for Peterborough United, Port Vale and Northampton Town.

Right-back Reece Hall-Johnson has football league experience with Grimsby and Northampton, centre-back Jerome Okimo played two seasons in League Two with Stevenage whilst captain and Northern Irish midfielder Dale Gorman was also with Stevenage, in addition to Leyton Orient and Newport County.

Experienced striker Nicke Kamamba has done the non-league rounds interspersed with short spells at Portsmouth, Colchester, Northampton as well as Kilmarnock. Ex-AFC Wimbledon midfielder Anthony Hartigan is on loan from Mansfield.

Oxfordshire football fans may be familiar with winger Sam Barratt from his time with Bracknell Town and Maidenhead United, midfielder Harry Pritchard had 7 seasons at Maidenhead before joining Blackpool and Bradford City, whilst keeper Laurie Walker was Oxford City’s keeper in the 2016/17 season before moving on to MK Dons, Oldham Athletic, Stevenage amongst others before joining Barnet. Defender Dominic Revan has been on loan this season to Banbury United.

Matchday Information

Barnet’s supporters faced a trip of nearly 60 miles by road to Oxford around the M25 and down the M40, which is normally around a 70 minute journey by car. There were a good number of Barnet fans at the match, officially 450, and they were in good voice throughout.

Spectators were segregated for today’s game, which I calculated was the fourth time this season at Court Place Farm, after Rochdale, Chesterfield and Boreham Wood.

Bet365 made Barnet 8/15 favourites, with Oxford City at 9/2 and the draw at 10/3.

The weather was dry at the 15.00 kick-off time, with temperatures around 14 degrees but rain was forecast for some times during the match.

Barnet made five changes from their side that started against Solihull Moors with only Gorman dropping down to the bench. The Barnet supporters’ forum made reference to an injury hit squad, and a reluctance to risk players with niggling injuries on Oxford City’s artificial surface.

Oxford City made two changes from their line-up at Wealdstone, with Canice Carroll returning from injury and interestingly, keeper Marcin Brzozowski was given a first start in place of Chris Haigh, who was on the bench. Ex-Weymouth and Hungerford winger Claudio Ofosu made his home debut after being signed in time to play at Wealdstone.

Barnet took to the field in their usual yellow and black kit, whilst Oxford City were in their traditional blue and white hoops.

Match Report

The visitors made a strong start and after 5 minutes Kabamba, from close to the penalty spot, headed a free-kick from Hartigan a couple of feet over the bar. A minute later Pritchard and Stead beyond the far post were both unable to get on the end of a cross from the right wing.

The Hoops then gave the ball away mid-way in their own half, and Stead was put clear down the left, and after cutting back inside, his shot was pushed away by the diving City keeper at his near post for a corner.

With 8 minutes on the clock, Armstrong won another corner for the Bees, from which Stead headed over from 10 yards but another corner was awarded. Hartigan’s delivery from the left was unconvincingly pushed over the bar by the home keeper, and then Brzozowski punched weakly at the next corner but was fortunate the loose ball was hammered wildly into the advertising hoardings by a Barnet attacker.

Oxford City eventually got into the game, and after 10 minutes Smith threaded a ball inside the square Barnet defence for Ofosu to hold off left-back Potter but his shot was saved low down at his near post by Walker for a corner. Ofosu then showed good skill to get past Okimo close to the by-line but his ball across the 6 yard box hit a defender before it could reach Parker, and Walker gratefully gathered.

Barnet responded immediately and a delightful through ball put Armstrong clear but Humphrey-Ewers was tracking back and was able to make an important block as the Barnet midfielder was about to pull the trigger. Oxford City had three attempts to clear the subsequent corner but after the pinball, a shot from Senior from the edge of the area took a slight deflection and Brzozowski saved on his goal-line.

The game was very open, with Barnet regularly finding huge holes in the Oxford City defence as the rain clouds were gathering in the distance.

Ex-Brackley Town striker Callum Stead made another dangerous run into the left-hand side of the penalty area for the visitors but again Carroll was on hand to intercept the ball across goal.

After 15 minutes Senior tried his luck again from the edge of the area but his effort fizzed just wide of the post. A minute later it looked like the visitors should open the scoring when Stead got to the by-line on the left and his chip across the face of the goal looked certain to headed home by Kabamba from 2 yards, but Roberts made a remarkable clearance to take the ball off the Barnet striker’s head and away for yet another corner. The set-piece was sent low to the neat post, but a clever flick across the goalmouth evaded everyone as City’s goal led a charmed life.

The home side were in danger of being over-run but it remained scoreless.

Barnet continued to dominate and after 19 minutes Stead stretched to get onto a cross from the right but he could only poke wide on the volley. The siege continued with Brunt curling a 20-yard effort just over the bar.

The tide temporarily ceased as Humphrey-Ewers sent a long ball to put Parker in space but after cutting back onto his right foot his attempt from the edge of the area was straight at the keeper and saved by Walker. It was a good chance.

At the other end Kabamba and Pritchard got in each other’s way at the back post and Carroll was able to make a block.

At this point the rain arrived and I temporarily sought shelter in the covered stand behind the goal, unaware that the away end had been extended to whole of the terrace. Consequently, I was amongst The Bees fans as they scored two goals in 5 minutes. With 26 minutes played a long cross from the right wing went beyond Burley and Kabamba unselfishly headed across goal to present Stead with a simple close-range tap-in.

Barnet continued to dominate as Armstrong’s cross into the area was prodded wide by Pritchard from 6 yards and shortly after Barnet’s Ben Wynter picked up the first yellow card of the game for a trip on Humphrey-Ewers. Oxford City quickly lost possession and Armstrong made a strong run deep in to home territory and passed to Kabamba to tee up Stead on the edge of the area, who produced a delightful curling shot into the top corner. 2-0 to Barnet after 32 minutes, with two goals for Stead and two assists for Kabamba.

Falling two goals behind produced a response from the home side, first with McEachran’s run being ended with a shot being deflected for a corner, and then a defence splitting pass from McEachran was run onto by Ofosu, who won a corner.

The Hoops spell was short lived though as Pritchard’s dangerous cross needed a very good header from Carroll to clear the threat, then Brzozowski had to go outside of his area to get to a long ball ahead of Stead, but his attempted clearance on the slide hit the Barnet forward but fortunately for The Hoops fell to safety and was cleared.

Just before half-time Barnet came close to adding a third goal on several occasions. First, a right-wing cross forced a diving push away from the keeper, then Brunt ran through three static defenders but his shot from the 18 yard line was saved by Brzozowski’s legs, then Wynter’s 20 yard goal-bound effort was pushed around the post by the diving keeper. The corner saw Pritchard’s back-flick fly across the face of the goal with no attacker anticipating for a close-range finish.

In added on time, a long ball to McEachran enabled the midfielder to set-up Parker, but the Antiguan International could only volley high and wide, then Pedder ran at the retreating Barnet defence but his attempt from just outside the area was at the keeper, who caught the shot.

At half-time Barnet led by 2-0 but frankly it should have been more, and Oxford City had taken a battering, and the difference in their positions in the league table was evident.

Oxford City made one change at half-time, bringing on centre-forward Olly Sanderson, and right away they looked more effective with the Fulham loanee’s pace causing problems for the Barnet defence. Two minutes in the second half, Barnet had a remarkable escape as McEachran then Parker both had shots blocked at close range and then McEachran’s follow-up from the rebound looking to be heading into the net but Pritchard made an amazing block on the goal-line. The loose ball fell to Smith, but the Austrian could only produce a poor volley, well wide when he had time to control and pick his spot. City appealed for a handball but it was more in desperation than hope.

Barnet then gave the ball away near the half-way line which Sanderson claimed but his optimistic long-range shot was blocked by a defender.

Barnet’s reply was for Stead to send a piledriver goalward for Brzozowski to deny the hat-trick with a diving save to his right, then a defensive mix-up in the Oxford City area gave Armstrong a chance but Burley made a goal-line clearance.

Burley then blotted his copy book by hesitating and losing possession to give Barnet a 2 on 1, but Stead chose to go for glory rather than play in Kabamba, and drilled his effort several feet wide.

After 56 minutes Ofosu showed good pace to win a corner, which was played beyond the far post where Carroll controlled and then chipped back across goal to Parker, whose header from inside the 6-yard box was met by a point-blank push away by Walker, who was certainly not doing his former side any favours, but frankly, Parker should have buried the chance.

At the other end, Brunt’s cross was headed across goal and over by Kabamba, but sloppy play by Barnet gave the ball away again, and Sanderson beat Okimo for pace, and his shot with the outside of his right foot was tipped over the bar by Walker. Moore was then put in space on the left but after cutting back inside he chose to shoot rather than play to team-mates in a better position, and Walker again made the save.

With just under 25 minutes remaining the rain started to fall heavily so again I had to move under cover, this time close to the Oxford City bench. The Hoops' Smith was the next player to enter the referee’s notebook, receiving a yellow card after losing possession when City were building a good move and had to prevent the counter attack.

Oxford City’s passing again was sloppy, this time Ofosu giving the ball away leading to Kabamba playing the ball back to Gorman, and after the shot was parried Wynter tapped home into an empty net. Fortunately for the home side, the linesman’s flag was raising for offside and the goal was chalked off.

Oxford City though were generally having the better of the second half, and with 18 minutes remaining Ofosu laid the ball off to Smith and his first-time drive was pushed past the post by the diving Barnet keeper.

With time running out McEachran and Burley combined to put the St Kitts International in space on the right but the blazed cross was too high for Parker to reach, then Carroll produced a lovely pass over the top for Sanderson to run on to, but the shot from just inside the area slipped just wide of the post.

In added on time, Carroll collected a good punch from Walker, but his chip back into the area was just ahead of Parker.

With almost the last move of the match, Stead’s shot produced a partial save by Brzozowski and although the ball squirmed under his body, Roberts was able to put the ball out for a corner.

At the final whistle Barnet deservedly took the three points after a dominant first half performance. Not for the first time this season, Oxford City looked a much better team after the interval, but needed to convert some of the chances they created to get back into the game.

Barnet stayed in second place in the table and visit leaders Chesterfield in two weeks’ time. Oxford City slip to joint bottom but have a two week break in which they will hope some of their walking wounded will recover, and should look forward to a run of 6 matches against sides in the bottom half of the table, in which they would need to pick up a few wins to start climbing the table.

Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lY8QgAq7zo

Oxford City : Brzozowski – Burley, Carroll, Roberts, Moore ( Miccio ) – Ofosu ( Fonkeu ), McEachran, Humphrey-Ewers, Smith, Pedder  ( Sanderson ) – Parker

Barnet FC:  Walker – Wynter, Okimo, Potter – Senior ( Barratt ), Armstrong ( Gorman ), Hartigan, Brunt, Pritchard – Kabamba ( Hooper ), Stead