Barnet and Oxford United have met on a number of occasions. The first time was in 1995 in the 1st round of the Auto Windscreens Shield (a predecessor of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy).
The 1st round of this tournament was played on a mini league basis, or ‘round robin’ system, with teams placed in groups of three clubs who all met each other. Barnet were in the same group as Oxford and Bristol City. This game was the last of the three matches; Oxford had beaten Bristol City 3-0 and City had beaten Barnet 2-0. Barnet had to beat Oxford by a three goal margin to go through to the next round.
Unfortunately, it was Oxford who progressed to the next round winning 3-2 at Underhill. The result somewhat flattered the visitors and Barnet’s Sean Devine came close on two occasions in the first half, but early on in the second half, Alan Pardew put Oxford ahead with an own goal, inadvertently lobbing Bees’ keeper, Maik Taylor. Barnet equalized when Mark Cooper rammed a shot home from close range, but then Oxford finished off any chance Barnet had of progressing with two quick goals to go 3-1 up. Late on in the match, Bees’ substitute, Terry Robbins pulled a goal back following a mazy run and cross from Micky Tomlinson. The Barnet line up was: Taylor, Gale (Robbins), Dyer, Pardew, Primus, McDonald, Tomlinson, Scott, Cooper, Devine, Wilson (Hodges).
The other two meetings were in 2005/06, following Barnet’s return to league football after winning the Conference in 2005. Oxford were just outside the play-offs, on goal difference, when the two sides met at Underhill in October and played out a dull, goalless draw.
When the two sides met at the Kassam stadium the following April, both sides had slumped down the table and become embroiled in a relegation battle. On the day, Oxford won 2-0. Disaster struck the Bees in the first minute when a calamitous mix up between Ross Flitney and Anthony Charles allowed Eric Sabin to put the home side ahead and when Tcham N’Toya put Oxford 2-0 up midway through the first half. Barnet never really looked like salvaging anything after that and the defeat left Barnet hovering over the relegation zone, only ahead of Rushden & Diamonds on goal difference. Oxford moved three points above Barnet. The Barnet side that day was: Flitney; Hendon (Batt), Warhurst, Charles, Clist; Bailey, Vernazza, Hessenthaler (Sinclair), Fuller; Kandol, Strevens.
In the event, Barnet remained unbeaten over the last five matches of the season, taking nine points while Oxford only managed a single point from their last four matches and were relegated along with Rushden.
In 2010/11, Oxford won 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium, Mark Marshall scoring for the Bees. In the game at Underhill, with Barnet desperate for points to stay up, the game ended 2-2 despite Barnet having lead twice. The Barnet scorers were Mark Hughes and Clovis Kamdjo and the Barnet side that day was; Walker; Kamdjo, Devera, Leach, Parkes; Hughes, Byrne, Deering, Marshall; Midson, McLeod (Holmes).
Oxford did Barnet a massive favour the following Saturday coming from behind to beat Lincoln City 2-1 in a match, which it could be said, ultimately saved Barnet's league status.
In 2011/12, Oxford won 2-0 in September at Underhill and completed the double later in the season winning 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium; Michael Hector scoring for the Bees.
In 2012/13, the game at Underhill ended in a 2-2 draw with Jake Hyde scoring both Barnet goals, while the match at Oxford ended in a 1-0 win for the home side.