O’Donkor scores as City are beaten again

Barnet 3-1 Oxford City

Oxford United loanee Gatlin O’Donkor struck as Oxford City were beaten by play-off-bound Barnet.

The 19-year-old, who also had a short spell with the Hoops a couple of seasons ago, scored at the end of a first half in which City had done well to keep the hosts at bay.

Barnet’s top scorer Nicke Kabamba struck twice more in the second half before Harvey Greenslade grabbed a late consolation for his side.

City’s relegation back to step 2 had been confirmed following defeat at AFC Fylde nine days ago but they had started the Easter weekend with a morale-boosting victory over Wealdstone, their first in two months.

This would be a different test altogether though against a side second in the table, closing in on booking a spot in the play-offs.

The Bees threw plenty at them in the opening 45 minutes, but a combination of strong defending in the box and some smart saves from goalkeeper Tom Watson kept the score level.

It took until the 42nd minute for the visitors to really threaten the Barnet goal. Greenslade hit the side netting and Josh Ashby forced a save out of Josh Keeley, both on the break.

Unfortunately though, they were then caught on the break themselves, and O’Donkor raced through on goal, holding off a defender before placing the balls between the legs of Watson for his fifth goal in a Barnet shirt.

That came after a failed penalty appeal at the other end, and City’s frustrations boiled over as three players, plus someone on the bench, found their way into the referee’s notebook. A double save from Watson just before the whistle left the score at 1-0.

Ross Jenkins’s men suffered a further blow after the resumption, with Josh Parker forced off injured, although the striker had struggled to get in the game in the first half.

Barnet continued to rack up the opportunities to extend their lead, but only did so in the last quarter of an hour. Barnet top scorer Kabamba struck from close range twice and the game was sealed.

The visitors weren’t quite done. Virtually from the restart after the third, they broke down the other end and Greenslade was able to lob the ball over Keeley.

A dramatic late comeback was probably too much to ask, but they could have snatched a second with the last bit of action, with a cross from Potter headed over by Ernaldo Krasniqi.

Monday’s results sadly confirmed City will finish bottom of the National League, but once again they didn’t disgrace themselves against one of the league’s top sides.

Barnet (4-3-3): Keeley; Cropper, Collinge, Thompson, Coker; Hartigan, Gorman, Freeman (Brunt 64’); O’Donkor (Okimo 64’), Kabamba, Stead (Maguire-Drew 82’). Unused subs: Walker, Hall-Johnson.

Oxford City (3-4-2-1): Watson; O’Connell, Phillips, Roberts (Kabongolo 83’); Moore, Fleet, Krasinqi, Roddy; Ashby, Greenslade; Parker (Potter 49’). Unused subs: Coyle, Williams-Bushall, Humphrey-Ewers.

Goals: O’Donkor 45’, Kabamba 76’, 89’; Greenslade 89’.

Booked: Freeman 52’, Collinge 75’, Gorman 90+2’; Ashby 45+3’, Parker 45+3’, Phillips 45+6’.

Attendance: 1,922.