Battling Hoops come up short against high-flying Bees.

Barnet 3

O'Donkor 44'

Kabamba 78', 87

Oxford City 1

Greenslade 89'

Despite a battling display at the Hive, a controversial first-half goal from ex-Hoop Gatlin O'Donkor and a second-half double from Nicke Kabamba consigned Oxford City to defeat in the capital.

City had to defend in the first-half, but when Giles Phillips was shoved in the back by Nicke Kabamba, referee Abigail Byrne ignored City's protests and O'Donkor had the freedom of the half to slot past Watson.

Harvey Greenslade's late consolation gave the 45 Oxford City fans something to shout about in the 89th minute with a well taken goal.

Another performance where factors went against the Hoops. However, it was another performance which saw City continue to show that they aren't going to go down quietly.

Selection

Ross Jenkins made two changes to team that beat Wealdstone 1-0 just three days prior.

Andre Burley's injury in that win meant he was replaced by the returning Mitchell Roberts. Whereas Jacob Roddy replaced Lewis Coyle in the other change.

First Half

To use an extremely over-used pun, the Bees were flying-high. Barnet came into this match in 2nd place, second only to the champions Chesterfield.

Barnet's aim is to consolidate a second-placed finish and secure a home Play-Off Semi-Final tie. Moreover, they started positively and gave City some early defending to do.

After just six minutes, City had Mitchell Roberts to thank after the defender's expertly executed sliding challenge stopped Kabamba in his tracks whilst the forward bore down on goal.

The Barnet talisman looked almost certain to score after picking up Tom Watson's loose kick and bursting through on goal, but Roberts' challenge was inch-perfect.

Nevertheless, Watson remained in the firing line, but the Goalkeeper on loan from Wigan Athletic made a string of fine saves to keep the Hoops in the contest.

Callum Stead would've been sick of the sight of the City stopper, after he was denied three times in quick succession.

Firstly saving the Barnet midfielder's low drive, before a double-save just seconds later stifled the man who gave the Bees all three points in the reverse fixture.

There was more defending for City to do through the half. However, the best chances of the half fell to Ross Jenkins' side.

Another resolute first-half performance soaked up the pressure, and on the counter-attack, City looked dangerous.

Firstly, Harvey Greenslade broke away from the Barnet backline but his shot from a tight angle was blasted into the side-netting.

Then, just a minute later, Josh Ashby was wondering how he hadn't given City the lead after he sent a shot straight into Josh Keeley's hands.

Two golden opportunities which they couldn't quite put away.

However, all of the Hoops' solid defending was to be undone by a moment of controversy.

Again, Ross Jenkins' side found themselves on the wrong end of a questionable refereeing decision after Giles Phillips was pushed to the ground by Kabamba whilst rising to clear the ball with a standard header.

Nevertheless, the referee's disagreed. No whistle sounded, and O'Donkor then had the freedom of the half to strut through on goal and tuck the ball past a helpless Tom Watson.

A flurry of bookings followed. Josh Parker, Josh Ashby, Giles Phillips and Manager Ross Jenkins all saw yellow for their protests. All of whom remained bamboozled by the decision.

However, City's resolute defending was undone, and they went into the interval behind.

Second Half

The second-half saw City bring the game to Barnet. Perhaps the unjust nature of such a pivotal decision gave the team a boost?

Although, they couldn't find a way past a Barnet defence who were pretty solid themselves.

At the other end, the host's turned their noses up at a number of precious opportunities.

Ben Coker, Zak Brunt & Nicke Kabamba (on multiple occasions) came close. However, Captain Dale Gorman had the best chance for the Bees with twenty minutes to go when he sent a header agonisingly wide of Watson's post.

Although, any slight glimpses of a result on the road were snuffed out by Kabamba.

Barnet's leading scorer wasn't to be denied his goal. The ball found him in the six-yard box and he had the simplest of finishes to drill a shot into the net, as the pressure finally told.

Three minutes from time, Kabamba added his second. This time a flicked header found the net to put the Bees out of sight.

Nevertheless, as we've become accustomed to, this City side will not stop running until the last ball on the final day is kicked.

Straight from the kick-off, the Hoops looked to score a deserved goal, and Greenslade duly obliged.

Adam Thompson was too lackadaisical when trying to shepherd Reece Fleet's pass out for a goal-kick. From there, Greenslade picked his pocket, ran in on goal and dinked the goalkeeper to score a fantastic goal.

That was the least that City deserved on the day, and who knows what could've been on this occasion.

We're into the final three games of the season now. After the busy Easter schedule, the Hoops have a rare weekend off on Saturday (due to Bromley's participation in the FA Trophy).

So, next up is Oldham Athletic at the RAW Charging Stadium on Saturday 13th April. See you there Hoops!

Attendance: 1,922 (45 OCFC)

Line-Ups

Oxford City Starting XI

Watson, Phillips, Ashby, Roddy, Fleet (C), Greenslade, Roberts (Kabongolo 83'), Parker (Potter 49'), Moore, O'Connell, Krasniqi

Subs not used

Coyle, Humphrey-Ewers, Williams-Bushell

Barnet Starting XI

Keeley, Coker, Collinge, Gorman (C), Kabamba, Stead (Maguire-Drew 82'), Freeman (Okimo 64'), Hartigan, O'Donkor (Brunt 64'), Thompson, Cropper

Subs not used

Walker, Hall-Johnson