Ryan Clarke's late penalty save handed Oxford victory over Barnet to keep them in the League Two play-off places.

Michael Hector's low drive from 25 yards gave the visitors the lead, but the U's soon took control.

Scott Rendell headed the equaliser from Lee Holmes' left-wing cross before James Constable slammed in a second-half winner.

Clarke then pulled off a superb save to deny Izale McLeod from the spot after Damian Batt had tripped Ricky Holmes.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOMS

Oxford United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Oxford:

"We had to dig ourselves out of a hole as I thought the first goal was a little bit unfortunate from our point of view.

"But I thought we got ourselves back into it, started winning a few tackles, headers, got the ball wide and we started to cause them a few problems. We were dominant going into half-time and deserved the equaliser.

"They were hanging on at half-time and I think they were hanging on in the second half. We got the deserved goal to go in front and should have kicked on from there.

"They went for it at the end and we were indebted to our keeper Ryan Clarke for making a good late penalty save."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Oxford United

  • 01 Clarke
  • 02 Batt
  • 05 Duberry Booked
  • 06 Wright
  • 16 Whing (Wilson - 72' )
  • 20 Leven
  • 26 Davis
  • 27 Holmes
  • 09 Constable
  • 19 Johnson Booked (Tonkin - 80' )
  • 23 Rendell (Worley - 88' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Brown
  • 03 Tonkin
  • 22 Worley
  • 24 Wilson
  • 39 Kerrouche

Barnet

  • 01 Brill
  • 05 Dennehy (Hajrovic - 46' Booked )
  • 17 Hector
  • 19 Saville (Mustoe - 71' )
  • 21 Kamdjo (Obita - 67' Booked )
  • 30 Downing
  • 04 Hughes
  • 08 Byrne
  • 10 Deering
  • 11 Holmes
  • 23 McLeod

Substitutes

  • 18 O'Brien
  • 12 Mustoe
  • 16 Hajrovic
  • 25 N'Diaye
  • 37 Obita
Ref: Attwell
Att: 5,848

Match Stats

Shots

14 5

On target

9 3

Corners

8 3

Fouls

9 21

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:55 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +1:30

Corner taken by Mark Byrne, save by Ryan Clarke.

90:00 +1:25

Jordan Obita produces a cross, blocked by Damian Batt.

89:23

Ricky Holmes delivers the ball, Michael Duberry makes a clearance.

87:05 Substitution

Substitution Harry Worley joins the action as a substitute, replacing Scott Rendell.

85:05

Mark Wilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Byrne. Free kick crossed left-footed by Jordan Obita from left wing, Liam Davis manages to make a clearance.

83:53

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jordan Obita.

83:53 Penalty

Penalty taken by Izale McLeod is saved by Ryan Clarke. Oxford Utd 2-1 Barnet.

82:36

Ricky Holmes fouled by Damian Batt, the ref awards a Penalty.

79:37 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Tonkin replaces Oli Johnson.

78:29

Dean Brill takes the free kick.

78:29 Booking

Booking Michael Duberry shown a yellow card.

78:24

Michael Duberry concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Hughes.

77:01

The referee blows for offside. Dean Brill takes the indirect free kick.

74:50

Liam Davis has an effort at goal from outside the box missing to the wide left of the goal.

74:34

Sam Deering concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Wilson. Peter Leven restarts play with the free kick.

71:38 Substitution

Substitution Mark Wilson is brought on as a substitute for Andrew Whing.

70:42 Substitution

Substitution Jack Saville goes off and Jordan Mustoe comes on.

69:32

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven played to the near post. Lee Holmes has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

68:06

Ryan Clarke takes the direct free kick.

68:06 Booking

Booking Jordan Obita is shown a yellow card.

67:53

Oli Johnson fouled by Jordan Obita, the ref awards a free kick.

67:08

James Constable takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.

66:37 Substitution

Substitution (Barnet) makes a substitution, with Jordan Obita coming on for Clovis Kamdjo.

65:53

Corner from right by-line taken by Peter Leven.

65:17

Clovis Kamdjo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Whing. Jake Wright restarts play with the free kick.

64:47

Ricky Holmes takes a shot. Save by Ryan Clarke.

63:51

Corner from left by-line taken by Peter Leven.

63:33

Inswinging corner taken by Peter Leven from the right by-line.

63:20

Peter Leven takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.

62:15

Shot from close range by Sam Deering misses to the left of the goal.

60:22

Dean Brill takes the free kick.

60:22 Booking

Booking Oli Johnson goes into the book.

60:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Oli Johnson on Mark Hughes.

59:36

Liam Davis fouled by Mark Byrne, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Clarke.

58:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Oli Johnson by Jack Saville. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Peter Leven from right wing.

57:51

Damian Batt sends in a cross, Paul Downing manages to make a clearance.

55:26

Assist on the goal came from Peter Leven.

55:26 Goal scored

Goal - James Constable - Oxford 2 - 1 Barnet James Constable finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the top left corner of the goal. Oxford Utd 2-1 Barnet.

54:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sam Deering on Damian Batt. Peter Leven produces a cross,

53:50

Unfair challenge on Michael Duberry by Izale McLeod results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Peter Leven.

52:24

Shot by Oli Johnson from deep inside the penalty area hits the post.

51:53

Jake Wright restarts play with the free kick.

51:53 Booking

Booking Sead Hajrovic booked.

51:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Holmes by Sead Hajrovic.

51:01

Peter Leven takes the inswinging corner, Dean Brill makes a save.

49:38

Unfair challenge on James Constable by Paul Downing results in a free kick. Centre by Peter Leven, Scott Rendell takes a shot. Dean Brill makes a save.

48:40

Sam Deering has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

48:22

Damian Batt crosses the ball, Mark Byrne makes a clearance.

48:22

Damian Batt sends in a cross.

47:55

Unfair challenge on Andrew Whing by Clovis Kamdjo results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jake Wright.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Sead Hajrovic comes on in place of Darren Dennehy.

45:00 +2:04 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +0:53

Andrew Whing delivers the ball, Darren Dennehy makes a clearance.

45:00 +0:09

Michael Hector gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Holmes. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Peter Leven, clearance by Jack Saville.

42:46

Assist by Lee Holmes.

42:46 Goal scored

Goal - Scott Rendell - Oxford 1 - 1 Barnet Scott Rendell finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Oxford Utd 1-1 Barnet.

42:43

The ball is swung over by Lee Holmes,

37:47

Scott Rendell takes a shot. Clovis Kamdjo gets a block in. The referee blows for offside. Dean Brill restarts play with the free kick.

37:47

Scott Rendell takes a shot. Clovis Kamdjo gets a block in. The assistant referee signals for offside against James Constable. Dean Brill restarts play with the free kick.

36:11

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven, save by Dean Brill.

35:56

James Constable takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.

34:33

Corner from the right by-line taken by Peter Leven, save by Dean Brill.

33:49

Unfair challenge on Lee Holmes by Mark Byrne results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Lee Holmes from left wing.

33:36

A cross is delivered by Liam Davis, Michael Hector makes a clearance.

31:33

Mark Byrne produces a cross, Damian Batt manages to make a clearance.

30:50

Andrew Whing gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Clovis Kamdjo. Mark Byrne takes the direct free kick.

29:27

Clovis Kamdjo fouled by Andrew Whing, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Hector.

27:20

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Peter Leven, Darren Dennehy makes a clearance.

26:37

Scott Rendell fouled by Paul Downing, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Peter Leven from left channel, Paul Downing makes a clearance.

26:21

Oli Johnson takes a shot. Save made by Dean Brill.

22:56

Oli Johnson takes a shot. Save by Dean Brill.

21:05

Centre by Izale McLeod, Michael Duberry makes a clearance.

19:35

Clovis Kamdjo challenges Michael Duberry unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Michael Duberry.

16:23

Darren Dennehy challenges Scott Rendell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Leven shoots direct from the free kick.

15:07

Mark Byrne provided the assist for the goal.

15:07 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Hector - Oxford 0 - 1 Barnet Michael Hector fires in a goal from just outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Oxford Utd 0-1 Barnet.

14:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jake Wright on Izale McLeod. Mark Byrne takes the direct free kick.

13:28

Unfair challenge on Michael Duberry by Izale McLeod results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Damian Batt.

12:08

The official flags James Constable offside. Dean Brill takes the free kick.

10:27

Mark Byrne concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Davis. Direct free kick taken by Peter Leven.

9:26

Unfair challenge on Andrew Whing by Mark Hughes results in a free kick. Peter Leven restarts play with the free kick. Lee Holmes crosses the ball, Scott Rendell has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.

8:36

Izale McLeod challenges Ryan Clarke unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ryan Clarke takes the free kick.

7:35

Oli Johnson concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Hector. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Mark Byrne, clearance made by Liam Davis.

4:24

Andrew Whing challenges Izale McLeod unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Jack Saville, clearance made by Andrew Whing. Andrew Whing fouled by Ricky Holmes, the ref awards a free kick. Ryan Clarke takes the direct free kick.

3:29

Michael Hector gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Oli Johnson. Free kick taken by Peter Leven.

2:41

Mark Byrne takes a shot. Blocked by Jake Wright. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Mark Byrne, save made by Ryan Clarke.

1:23

The offside flag is raised against Scott Rendell. Indirect free kick taken by Dean Brill.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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