Colourful U's earn a point

Barnet 0 - 0 Oxford United

Saturday October 1^st

REVITALISED Oxford United stretched their unbeaten run to six games to move up to seventh in the table.
There was something inevitable about this match finishing goalless from the moment the Oxford Mail revealed on Saturday how these two teams had gone the longest of all those in League Two since their last 0-0 stalemate.
But there was nothing dull, or colourless, about this contest.
Quite the opposite in fact, with United forced to wear orange shirts after a colour clash and kit mix-up.
Oxford had fantastic support - their 1,189 supporters represented more than a third of the 3,272 gate.
Many of those fans looked on in disbelief when their heroes emerged from the tunnel looking more like Blackpool in their bright tops.
One wondered whether the U's players would remember to pass to someone wearing such an unfamiliar colour.
But after initial uncertainties, the visitors began picking each other out without problem and they took early control, playing most of the first 15 minutes in Barnet's half.
It was the home side, however, who managed the first shot, Dwane Lee curling a free-kick over the wall which Billy Turley caught.
Dean Sinclair, who had won the free-kick when brought down by Chris Willmott, then struck a fierce 35-yarder which Turley fumbled, but, fortunately for him, the ball didn't cross the line.
Oxford were enjoying most of the possession and they almost took the lead in an almighty scramble in Barnet's six-yard box with Leo Roget, Eric Sabin and Steve Basham all having efforts blocked.
Simon King, who gave another classy performance, was winded when he got in the way of a powerful Craig Davies shot.
The Bees squandered a good opportunity when Guiliano Grazioli missed his kick in an excellent shooting position.
There wasn't quite the same authority to United as they had shown at Rochdale, one example coming as Matt Robinson and Lee Bradbury appeared confused about who should pick up Louis Soares.
Eventually, though, United's grip on procedings was translated into chances.
Bradbury saw his header from Robinson's cross caught, and Davies had a powerful 35-yard drive saved.
Seven minutes before the break, Basham probably should have scored when he was picked out by Sabin's low right-wing cross, but he wasn't clinical enough and the keeper stopped the shot with a foot.
At the other end, King outjumped the U's defence at a corner, but directed his glancing header wide.
Bradbury had been booked for an innocuous foul and Lee was yellow-carded a few minutes later for cynically stopping Bradbury in his tracks.
Oxford played down the slope in the second half and after a few minutes, Bradbury was played in and knocked the ball past the keeper but his effort on goal was blocked.
United carved out chances as they exploited space. Davies cut in from the right and hit a decent shot, which was blocked, Sabin planted a downward header wide and then the energetic Frenchman beat two players on a run from the left touchline but shot past the near post.
Brian Talbot drew the fourth official's attention to the fact that Barnet had provided towels for their players to dry their hands before launching long throw-ins, yet they weren't available when Oxford were attacking, so the ref put a stop to that (mal)practice.
Barnet finished the game strongly, Grazilio going close with an overhead kick after Turley couldn't get much distance on a punch, and Nicky Bailey driving wide.
United had been the better side, but seven days ago they would have settled for four points from this week's two testing away games.

U's blast Bees for throwing in towel

by Jon Murray on 03 October 2005

Brian Talbot confirmed he had protested to the referee about Barnet's unfair use of towels to wipe their hands before taking throw-ins, writes JON MURRAY.

He complained to the ref via the fourth official, and the practice was stopped because the towels were only available in the half Barnet were attacking.

The U's boss said: "Nothing was discussed before the kick-off and if you're going to have a multi-ball system, or a towel system, both teams have to agree that.

"We weren't told about it and because of the wetness in the first half, they decided to bring towels on for the second half.

"But unfortunately they were only at the attacking end for Barnet, which was a little bit wrong.

"I told the fourth official I didn't think it was fair, it wasn't decided before the kick-off.

"All we were asking was please could you remove them because it is not fair on us."

Bees boss Paul Fairclough reflected: "It was a fair result, I couldn't argue with the score.

"Both teams cancelled each other out. It was not a classic performance from either side.

"We need a little bit of luck at the moment. Last season we were getting the breaks, this season were not."

Barnet's former United defender Simon King said: "We had to be on our game today because Oxford have pace up front.

"Oxford were on a good run, they came here and did a job.

"I'd played against Sabin when he was at Northampton, he has good pace and movement and obviously I knew 'Bash' (Steve Basham). He's a tidy, intelligent player.

"But I enjoyed it and felt I had a good game."

Future's bright but not orange!

by Jon Murray on 03 October 2005

Oxford United goalkeeper Billy Turley hailed the spirit of his team, after their 0-0 draw at Barnet on Saturday.

But the U's stopper slammed Saturday's opponents, after they refused to change their home strip of black - forcing United to play the match in Barnet's orange training shirt and red socks.

Oxford secretary Mick Brown has taken responsibility for the communication blunder, but Turley feels that Barnet did themselves no favours.

"It was unbelievable," he said.

"We had our black kit - everyone knows Barnet play in orange.

"I thought it was petty that they wouldn't agree to change, they've got a little bit of a non-league mentality in that respect. I thought it spoilt it because they could have worn their away kit.

"Yet that showed how strong mentally we are now. Four weeks ago, if we'd have got the wrong shirts on, and the wrong socks, we'd have thought it was like Sunday morning football.

"But we cleared our heads, the gaffer said before the game 'that's gone' and we came out strong, and in the first half we could have won it."

United packed only their black away strip after thinking that Barnet played in orange. But the Bees have changed to all black this season, leading to a nightmare clash.

Brown explained: "I went by the directory the Football League sent out just a few days before the start of the season, but apparently they sent out an amendment to it, which I didn't pick up.

"When we arrived, Barnet's chairman agreed that we could play in our black away kit and they would change to their away strip, which the Football League regulations permit them to do once a season.

"We had helped them out. Their chief executive called us on Friday to ask if we could bring some of our stewards' phones because they'd had a break-in at the club and theirs had been stolen.

"So we had come to their aid, and their chairman was prepared to reciprocate.

"Unfortunately, their manager and players weren't, and they refused to change."

Brown added: "It's not our kit man's fault. I take full responsibility for it and I feel pretty down about the whole thing.

"It meant we didn't have players' names on the backs of the shirts."

United looked more like Blackpool, and the mess was exacerbated by Eric Sabin having 17 on his shirt and 18 on his shorts.

Oxford could be fined for the mistake, but Brown is hoping to explain the mis- understanding to League officials today.

Said Brian Talbot: "It was unfortunate. It's happened before.

"Their manager didn't want to change. Maybe he thought it would unsettle us having to play in that kit, but at the end of the day, it's only a game of football."