FIXTURE DETAILS

 Oxford City vs Barnet

Vanarama National League

RAW Charging Stadium

Saturday 28th October, 15:00

Match Sponsors: GET Radio

Referee: Farai Hallam   Assistants: Scott Chalkley & David Pilling   Fourth Official: Simon Kavanagh

RECENT FORM

Oxford City - W D L L L

A whole host of Injuries for Ross Jenkins’ side have meant the side has had to adapt in recent weeks.

However, the Hoops have showed a lot of promise, levelling away at high-flying Bromley before losing at Wealdstone in mid-week.

This leaves the Hoops still hunting for their first away victory this year, however being back at home this weekend, Ross Jenkins' side will be optimistic that they can get something from this one.

Barnet - W D W W D

Barnet have been scintillating all season, with the only slight blemish on their record in recent weeks being a 2-2 draw with National League South high-flyers Aveley in the Cup (before they won the replay 4-0).

 Their last draw in the league was a late draw at Solihull last weekend, courtesy of Gary Hooper’s first goal for the club in the 90+7th minute.

They have also beaten Maidenhead and Dorking in their last five.

Their away form this season isn’t quite as good at home, with the Bees unbeaten all season at the Hive. However, they’ve still collected 16 points from 8 games on the road, picking up wins against the likes of Bromley and Boreham Wood on their travels.

Barnet are also the league’s second highest scorers, scoring 36 goals already, and have scored in each of their last eight games.

They have only lost twice in all competitions since play-off heartbreak last year, and those losses have both come away at sides in the bottom half, in the form of Dagenham & Redbridge and Rochdale. However, you have to go back to the 16th September to find the Bees' last loss.

ONE TO WATCH - Nicke Kabamba

Barnet’s squad is littered with EFL experience, and Nicke Kabamba is no exception.

Born locally in Brent, Kabamba made his league debut for Uxbridge in 2011. He stayed there for two years, before earning a move to AFC Hayes. However, he struggled for game time and opted for a move to Burnham, where he began to score regularly.

A move to Hampton and Richmond followed, where he was the club’s top scorer in their 2015-16 promotion season, scoring 18 goals.

His big move came in 2017, when he signed for Portsmouth, however the striker never scored for the club. Loan spells at Colchester and Aldershot were equally frustrating for Kabamba, and after a short stint at Havant & Waterlooville, he made a permanent switch to Hartlepool. Here he spent one season, before a move to Scotland with Kilmarnock.

He finally ended up at Barnet in 2022, and was instrumental in the sides 5th place finish, bagging 19 goals. He has started this season on fire too, with 11 in his 17 games so far this year, placing him joint-third on the top scorer charts so far. He has also scored a hat trick already this year, putting three past Ebbsfleet in August.

Blessed with excellent athleticism, Kabamba started out as a sprinter before switching to football. He is a threat in the air as well, standing at an imposing 6’3”, so the City defenders will have to be on top form to contain him.

HAVE WE MET BEFORE?

This will be the third meeting between the Bees & the Hoops!

The last time we met was back in the 1952/53 season.

THE MANAGER - Dean Brennan

Brennan has been head coach of Barnet since 2021, replacing Harry Kewell, who had collected just two points from his opening seven games of the 2021-22 season. He managed to the Bees out of the mire, ending his first season in charge in 18th place.

Last year, he completed a remarkable turnaround at the Hive and took Barnet all the way to the play-offs, where they were eliminated by Boreham Wood, and was subsequently rewarded a contract until 2026.

Brennan was born in Dublin, and as a player, he played briefly in the third-tier for Luton Town in 2002, but otherwise spent his career playing in non league. He featured for Stevenage, Lewes, Dunstable Town, AFC Wimbledon and Cambridge City, coining the nickname ‘the Irish Beckham’ for his crossing ability.

Following retirement in 2012, he took over at Hemel Hempstead Town. He won the league with the Tudors two seasons later, and helped the side to ninth in their first season in the National League South, also taking them to the first-round proper of the FA Cup.

He ended up spending six years at the Hertfordshire side, before moving to then-fellow National League South side Billericay Town in the peak of their powers. However, this came with much less success than at Hemel, and Brennan was dismissed by trigger-happy owner Glenn Tamplin.

A short spell followed at Kingstonian, but he swiftly moved to Wealdstone. He won automatic promotion to the National League with the Stones in 2020, even turning down an approach from Barnet that same year, before opting to join them at the end of that season.

PLAYED FOR BOTH

Current Barnet 'keeper Walker is also a familiar name here at Oxford City!

He joined the Hoops in 2015 and went on to feature 41 times for City keeping ten clean sheets in the process.

The 6ft 5in shot stopper signed for Barnet in 2022 after leaving League Two side Stevenage. Since then, he's become a main stay in Dean Brennan's squad and will most likely make a return in between the sticks for Barnet on Saturday.

Another notable name who has played for both sides is defender Charlie Rowan. Rowan left City last season but played a big role in helping the Hoops win promotion to the National League.

He also spent time on loan with Barnet, joining on loan from QPR in 2019. Rowan made his professional debut with the Bees away at Wrexham.

HOW TO FOLLOW

FOLLOW THE ACTION:

Stay tuned to our official Twitter page for all the build-up, regular updates and post-match action.

LIVE STREAM:

This game will be available for international streaming via National League TV. You can buy a match pass by clicking HERE!

Remember to choose Oxford City as your favourite team!

AUDIO/RADIO COMMENTARY:

Can't make it to the match? BBC Radio Oxford will be providing full commentary of our match online.

Click HERE to head to the BBC's non-league commentary page where you'll be able to tune in at around 14:50. Or simply tune into BBC Radio Oxford on BBC Sounds.