A season’s best crowd of 3,425 saw this Bank Holiday Monday game in which Barnet dominated the match but were unfortunately undone by two James Constable goals.
Barnet started lively and after 6 minutes, Marshall was able to turn well in the penalty area, but his driven shot was cleared off the line by an Oxford defender.
The game started in a very open manner just soon after Marshall’s chance, the U’s had an opportunity for themselves when Steve MacLean, on loan from Plymouth, saw his headed attempt somewhat comfortably saved by Sam Walker.
Charlie Taylor had a rare start upfront with Izale McLeod and could have given the home side the lead after getting the ball out from under his feet well, before firing the ball just over from the edge of the area.
Barnet however did not have to wait long to eventually get on the score sheet. With 11 minutes played, Mark Byrne whipped in an in swinging free kick from the left hand touchline, which Clovis Kamdjo was able to flick into the top corner of the net past Ryan Clarke in the Oxford goal.
But on 16 minutes, Clovis Kamdjo went from hero to villain. The Cameroonian slipped at an awful moment which allowed MacLean to burst towards the Bees goal before comfortably laying the ball back for James Constable who side footed the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net, a shot that brushed Walker’s fingertips.
With half an hour having been played on the clock, it was time for the referee to get himself into the limelight. Mark Byrne fired in a free kick from what must have been 45 yards from the goal on the right hand touchline. Ryan Clarke looked nervy and it seemed as though the ball had actually crossed the line and that the referee had awarded the goal. However, after talking with the assistant through their earpieces, the referee changed his mind and decided that Clarke had actually been fouled, much to the dismay of the Barnet players and fans, and eventually awarded a free kick to Oxford.
That did not deter the Bees who continued to press and soon after Mark Byrne was again involved. This time he swung a corner in from the left which was met by the head of Daniel Leach, but yet again an Oxford defender was on the line to clear the ball which then fell to Kamdjo who from 25 yards unleashed a stinging attempt that Clarke had to leap towards and steer past his post.
The second half started much like the first half had ended, scrappy but with the Bees on top. And indeed on the hour mark the home side took the lead. Mark Hughes tackled well on the half way line and retained possession himself, taking the ball forward, and from 20 yards out had the vision to skilfully lob Clarke and the ball nestled nicely in the top corner.
Fifteen minutes later, Barnet received a scare when Constable found himself unmarked in Barnet’s penalty area before he headed the ball a long way wide from Josh Payne’s free kick.
When Barnet conceded another equalizer two minutes later, it hadn’t really come as much of a shock. Ben Purkiss, who came on as a first half substitute for former Bee Damian Batt, showed enough strength to take the ball past Jordan Parkes to the bar-line, and then found Constable unmarked who had the easy task of side footing the ball into the roof of the net.
There weren’t many chances after that, but Bees substitute Ricky Holmes forced a good save from Clarke in injury time with a low shot that was calmly parried away for a corner.
Next up for Guliano Grazioli’s men, is a very tough trip to Accrington Stanley whose home form of late is exceptional. The Bees ironically will be relying for Oxford to do them a favour at the same time, by beating fellow relegation candidates Lincoln City.
Man of the Match: Mark Byrne
