Oxford United seek second pre-season win at Barnet
Oxford United travel to League Two side Barnet on Saturday 25 July for their second pre-season fixture under head coach Aaron Ramsey, seeking back-to-back wins after a 3-1 victory at Aldershot Town. Kick-off at The Hive London is 3:00pm, with no streaming available for the friendly.
Key Takeaways
- Oxford United visit Barnet at The Hive London on 25 July at 3:00pm in their second pre-season game.
- Aaron Ramsey’s side won 3-1 at Aldershot Town in his first match as head coach.
- The club is under a registration embargo and cannot make new signings until January.
- Barnet are unbeaten in pre-season, including 2-2 draws with Watford and Luton Town.
- The sides last met competitively in March 2016, when Oxford won 3-0 at The Hive.
Why does this Barnet clash matter for Oxford United?
This is the second test of Ramsey’s early tenure after Tuesday’s turnaround win at National League Aldershot Town. Goals from Aidomo Emakhu, Gatlin O’Donkor and Jeon Jin-woo secured a 3-1 result after Oxford fell behind, with Emakhu and Jin-woo scoring their first goals in United colours.
According to Oxford United’s official match preview, Ramsey said he was “really pleased with the performance” and praised the squad’s standards. The trip also gives players a chance to impress while the club works under a registration embargo linked to EFL financial rules, meaning no new signings until the January window.
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How are Barnet shaping up ahead of the friendly?
Barnet will compete in League Two in 2026/27 after finishing eighth last season, two points short of the play-offs. The Bees, founded in 1888 and based at The Hive since 2013, returned to the Football League after a record-breaking National League title in 2024/25 under manager Dean Brennan, in charge since 2021.
Saturday is Barnet’s fifth pre-season fixture and they remain unbeaten. After early wins against Hitchin Town and another non-league opponent, they drew 2-2 with Championship side Watford and 2-2 with League One Luton Town. Recent additions include Oisin Gallagher (on loan from Lincoln City), defender Will Wright and goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.
Who are the key players to watch for Oxford United?
Emakhu, 22, joined from Millwall in January and opened the scoring at Aldershot with a back-post finish. Oxford United highlight him as a player looking to build confidence across a full pre-season. For Barnet, Kabongo Tshimanga, 28, led their scoring charts in 2025/26 with 16 goals and is framed as the focal point of their attack.
Historically, Oxford United have the edge: 12 meetings, eight wins, three draws and one defeat, with a first clash in 1995. The most recent competitive meeting in March 2016 ended 3-0 to the U’s at The Hive, with Callum O’Dowda scoring twice and Danny Hylton also on the scoresheet.
When and where can fans follow Oxford United vs Barnet?
The friendly is at The Hive London on Saturday 25 July, kicking off at 3:00pm. Oxford United say there is no streaming for this fixture, with live updates available via the official club app and key moments on X at @OUFCOfficial. Oxford Mail’s live coverage framed the game as Ramsey’s search for consecutive pre-season wins amid the transfer embargo.