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Post by clive on Oct 28, 2023 20:34:46 GMT
A disappointing result, and at half-time Barnet should have been out of sight such had been their dominance, as they seemed to cut apart the City defence at will. However, the introduction of Sanderson after the interval changed the dynamic of the match, as his pace seemed to unsettle the Barnet defence. City created several decent chances but were unable to convert, with ex-Hoop Laurie Walker making a few outstanding saves. City now slip to joint bottom but now have two weeks for some of the injured players to recover. There is now a run of 6 matches against sides in the bottom half of the table, where a few wins will be crucial. I thought Brzozowski had a decent debut behind a shaky defence and looks a good shot-stopper even if there were some nervous moments on crosses. I also thought Smith had a poor game, and I can't see him keeping his place in the side once Fleet, Ashby or Kirby are available again. Ofosu clearly has pace but on today's evidence I don't think he is any better than AWB. However, bodies are needed at the moment ! Here is the usual detailed match report for anyone interested. fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2023/10/oxford-city-0-2-barnet-fc-att-979.html |
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Post by Rijs on Oct 28, 2023 20:41:12 GMT
True to this season's pattern, City had another game of two halves today - outclassed by the high-flying Bees in the first half, but matching them in the second. In fact, Lawrie Walker was then the busier of the two keepers and he played a major part in keeping the clean sheet.
City seemed to begin by respecting their opponents too much, appearing a little awestruck and nervous, but this was perhaps understandable given the combination of Barnet's superb recent form and City's long injury list, which forced Ross Jenkins into constructing a makeshift team. It was a tough game for Marcin Brzozowski's debut, and although he made some decent saves, his clearances in the first half left a lot to be desired and contributed to our collective defensive nerves under the visitors' high press. The latter was quite relentless until they had the two-goal advantage their zippy play merited. In fact, we could easily have gone in four or five goals behind but for some last-ditch defending and their wayward finishing. Kabamba was a real handful but Stead's speed and clinical finishing made the difference.
Barnet, like Gateshead and Chesterfield, had that extra pace that made the City lads seem a fraction too slow, at least until they stepped off the high press and allowed us to build from the back after the first 35 minutes. They were not quite as accurate and lethal as the other two, though, and that left their loud-mouthed manager Dean Brennan fuming at them, when he wasn't ranting at the referee. Two warnings from the fourth official in the first half seemed to make no difference; the ref, he shouted, was 'the worst in the league by a mile'. Actually, I personally thought this ref had an excellent game. He kept it flowing and made no obvious mistakes. United could have done with him at their home match today, as much as City would have benefited from their neighbours' match not being on at all, as it must have taken 100 off our attendance. The Barnet fans seized control of the whole Shed End despite the segregating fence, and proceeded to turn the match into a home fixture for the away side.
They were quieter in the second period, however, no doubt because the pendulum was now swinging the other way and City looked much more dangerous than they had in the first half, when their few chances were wasted. The last chance of that half fell to Pedder who really should have scored, but instead shot straight at Walker. He was substituted at half time by Olly Sullivan, which was one factor in our stepping up a gear, though strangely it also resulted in captain Josh Parker being sent wide on the left (or drifting out there?), where he was less effective than usual.
Despite City's more confident second half display and their creation of numerous chances, their finishing was not good enough, and when it was on target, Walker's acrobatics and the defenders' blocking legs or goalline clearances kept us out. That said, the Bees were themselves also wasteful at the other end, and Burley came to our rescue with a clearance when Brzozowski was beaten. Although we could have got a draw we could equally have lost 6-0 or 6-3 - it was that sort of game.
As ever, we look for the positives in what was our tenth defeat. I was impressed by the lively pace and skill of new signing Claudio Ofosu. It was good to see Canice Carroll back in action. Zac is back to his old energy and grew in effect as the game wore on. Lattrell Humphrey-Ewers also grew in confidence and had a good game. He is the silver lining of the cloud cast by the injuries, because he would not have had so much pitch time if Kirby, Ashby or Fleet were fit. And overall, we never let our heads drop but kept on trying and working hard against the full-time pros.
Still, we were obviously lacking the qualities that Reece Fleet and Josh Ashby give us: Fleet's composure and penetrating long passes, and Ashby's competitiveness, work-rate and set pieces; plus the understanding that the two have built up with Zac. Too often, especially early on, our midfield gave the ball away and even Zac was guilty at times, but it was as if he was expecting the movement that his old partners might have made, and his idea was not picked up. The crucial second goal came when Rene Smith sold Lattrell just a fraction short with a quick pass; immediately it was seized upon, the ball was sent to Stead and the shot was spot on. One slight mistake at the halfway line, and within three seconds the ball was in our net. It's a tough league. Let's hope we get the injured back soon. Two weeks off now may be a help, but I'd rather be watching us take on FG Rovers next Saturday!
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Post by clive on Oct 28, 2023 20:57:51 GMT
Rijs
Snap, looks like we were watching the same game !
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Post by Rijs on Oct 28, 2023 20:59:14 GMT
Another fascinating and very detailed report, Clive: thank you!
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Post by Rijs on Oct 28, 2023 21:04:42 GMT
Yes, from different parts of the ground.
On a different note, I saw no hospitality bar at the ground today, and no car park attendants. Are City abandoning these innovations now?
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Post by clive on Oct 28, 2023 21:28:53 GMT
I parked in the OXRAD free car park, arrived at around 14.10 there were only a handful of space still available. There were two guys taking the £5 to enter the City car park, but I didn't see any stewards beyond that.
If we are going to make a reference to the Barnet manager's language then it would only be fair to point out the disgusting language from the City bench as well. I was standing close by for the last 15 minutes or so, and when the referee failed to give an obvious foul against Parker near the half-way line, Ross tried to have a reasonable, polite conversation with the 4th official. Unfortunately, the language from Foster and Ballard was disgraceful and embarrassing, especially from Foster.
Not doubt it will be defended as passion, but if anyone behaved like that in any other walk of life they would be instantly dismissed.
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Post by sgodfrey81 on Oct 29, 2023 11:59:51 GMT
The chance at the start of the second half felt very much like the Oldham game (chance just after half-time) where you knew that could have been a game-changing situation but unfortunately, we weren't able to convert the chance (or subsequent chances!). I still feel like this squad has the potential to survive once the injured players return so hopefully a 2-week break helps in that regard as our November & December fixtures are huge opportunities for points. Match photos here: flic.kr/s/aHBqjB1oqx. |
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Post by Rijs on Oct 29, 2023 14:50:20 GMT
I parked in the OXRAD free car park, arrived at around 14.10 there were only a handful of space still available. There were two guys taking the £5 to enter the City car park, but I didn't see any stewards beyond that. If we are going to make a reference to the Barnet manager's language then it would only be fair to point out the disgusting language from the City bench as well. I was standing close by for the last 15 minutes or so, and when the referee failed to give an obvious foul against Parker near the half-way line, Ross tried to have a reasonable, polite conversation with the 4th official. Unfortunately, the language from Foster and Ballard was disgraceful and embarrassing, especially from Foster. Not doubt it will be defended as passion, but if anyone behaved like that in any other walk of life they would be instantly dismissed. My criticism of Dean Brennan was not of his language - I didn't hear him swearing in the first half when I was on that side - but more of his repeated criticism of the ref and of his own team, both of whom seemed to be having a good game at the time. There was a lot of "That's not fair!" type whinging at the ref. I have little doubt that it's a tactic to pressurise a ref and that he calls every ref in the league the worst by a mile... |
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Post by Graeme on Oct 30, 2023 13:48:23 GMT
Watching the highlights it turns out the referee might not have had such a good game after all. I had wondered how Zac didn't score just after the restart. The highlights indicate it was because Pritchard blocked it on the line with his arm. Looks like he should have been off and a penalty to City. How that would have changed the game.
Sadly, as with the first goal against Scarborough, which never went near crossing the line, there wasn't any appeal from the City players.
As discussed above, a good second half performance from a much depleted and changed team. With so many new arrivals at and in such quick succession, that cohesion we have had is always going to be hard to achieve overnight, with or without good individual performances.
Barnet's first half press was impressive but I can't help but agree with Ross that overall two nil slightly flattered them, just as the scoreline flattered us against Fylde. I hope he isn't feeling the pressure too much at the moment. Even without the catalogue of key injuries we are always a part time team taking on full time teams week in week out. That is a massive challenge.
Players are coming back in the next few weeks. So we have to stay positive, try and suspend any lack of belief we might have in respect of any individual players and just get behind them. Personally I think we will have the basis of a pretty strong squad when the injured return.
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