A DREADFUL five-minute spell proved very costly for Oxford United as they lost for only the second time in 23 league games.

Liam Sercombe had put them in front early on, but Barnet profited from some poor defending to go from 1-0 down to 3-1 up in the blink of an eye by the 30th minute.

Sercombe, comfortably United's best player, dragged them back in the game with a superb finish before the break.

But despite putting Barnet under pressure in the second half, the home side could not capitalise and finished with nothing.

A groin injury picked up in training on Friday ruled out Ryan Taylor, allowing Jordan Graham to come back into the side after serving a suspension.

After a low-key start, United made a breakthrough with their first chance.

A corner was taken short and when Graham delivered low, Sercombe's eyes lit up as he devoured the chance by slamming home.

There was a feeling before the game an early goal would pave the way for a comfortable win for the hosts, as it would have forced Barnet to come out of their shells.

Plenty of goals duly followed, but to the astonishment of the home fans, Barnet bagged three in five minutes.

The crazy spell began when John Akinde flicked on a high ball for Curtis Weston to finish smartly in the 25th minute.

An awful error from Jake Wright gifted the second goal, with the United skipper unable to stop a hopeful ball into the box, allowing Akinde time and space to pick his spot.

The Barnet fans were still celebrating when their side made it 3-1 on the half hour mark.

United's back four was all over the place and Johnny Mullins played Josh Clarke onside to waltz through and beat an exposed Sam Slocombe at his near post.

The atmosphere was frenzied and Graham was fortunate to stay on the pitch two minutes later.

The winger had a strong penalty claim turned down, but he lost his cool and chased down Elliott Johnson, launching into an ugly tackle.

Referee Darren Handley opted to show only a yellow card, which quickly appeared again when Bira Dembele caught Kemar Roofe around the neck.

United badly needed to steady themselves - and Sercombe had the calmest head on the pitch.

Five minutes before the break he ran on to a pass, bursting past Dembele and coolly tucking home his seventh goal of the season.

Incredibly, the midfielder almost claimed a hat-trick in stoppage time when the ball fell his way in the penalty area.

His shot beat Barnet goalkeeper Jamie Stephens, but struck the inside of the post and rolled along the line before a defender cleared.

It brought a barmy first half to an end and the interval appeared to have calmed the game down.

United's search for an equaliser was more measured, although there was little in the game until Barnet were caught out just before the hour mark.

Hylton's through ball was not perfect, but MacDonald did well at full speed to get clear.

His shot forced a good save from Stephens, who was relieved to see Roofe scuff the rebound back to him.

Michael Appleton, who had already replaced Jake Wright with Chey Dunkley, responded by throwing on Patrick Hoban and Callum O'Dowda.

United were now calling the shots and pushed Barnet back, but chances proved hard to come by.

It took until seven minutes from time for a clear opportunity, created by Sercombe.

He ran powerfully with the ball and slipped in O'Dowda. The winger's shot beat Stephens, but the goalkeeper just got enough contact on the ball to allow a covering defender to clear.

Stephens saved well to keep out Roofe and George Baldock in stoppage time, as Barnet held on for their first away win of the league campaign.

Oxford Utd: Slocombe, Baldock, Mullins, Wright (Dunkley 52), Skarz, Graham, Lundstram, Sercombe, MacDonald (O'Dowda 61), Hylton (Hoban 61), Roofe.

Unused subs: Buchel, Ruffels, Rose, George.

Barnet: Stephens, Hoyte (Gash HT), N'Gala, Dembele, Johnson, Clarke, Champion, Yiadom, Muggleton (Gambin 53), Weston, Akinde (McLean 73).

Unused subs: Mackenzie-Lyle, Nelson, Togwell, Bailey.

Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire).

Attendance: 6,137 (328 visitors).