The irrepressible James Constable hit a double to break Barnet hearts at Underhill.

Oxford United's all-action centre forward, twice equalised to deny the Bees a precious win in their bid to stay in the Football League.

It was the perfect way for Constable, who has now struck 17 goals this season, to celebrate his signing four days ago of a new three-year contract.

Earlier in the season, the U's went months without a draw.

But this was their fourth draw in succession, and they again showed good character to battle back from behind.

The U's have had so many players in the wars that they were able to name only six subs, and they lost another as right back Damian Batt hobbled off in the first half.

United, playing in all blue, knew they were going to be in for a red-hot afternoon in the north London sunshine and their opponents came out with all guns firing.

Desperate for points to climb out of the relegation zone, the Bees players threw themselves into challenges and poured men forward at every opportunity in the early stages.

Harry Worley, returning to United's side, produced a strong defensive challenge on Mark Byrne, but his centre back parter, Jake Wright, will have been disappointed that he let Charlie Taylor get goalside of him, though he couldn't deliver a shot at the end of it.

With the home fans really getting behind their team, and having banged in four goals at Priestfield just 48 hours earlier, everything about Barnet seemed positive.

Taylor blazed over from inside the six yard box, though, with Wright's last-ditch challenge just doing enough to put him off.

And as if to show that they were not just there to make up the numbers, Steve MacLean tested giant Bees goalkeeper Sam Walker with a header, from Anthony Tonkin's cross.

The match burst further into life in the 12th minute when Clovis Kamdjo headed Barnet in front, nodding in Mark Byrne's deep free-kick from three yards. There seemed a suspicion that he had handled the ball too as he bundled it into the top corner, with some United deenders questioning Ryan Clarke over his positioning.

However, Oxford were back on level terms just five minutes later.

Tom Craddock raced 30 yards on a strong break from defence, played the ball out to his right and, after taking a touch, Constable drove left-footed past Walker, who got a hand to the effort but was powerless to see it still flying into the net.

That quieteened the noisy home supporter and took the wind out of the home team's sails.

When they resumed their confident attacking play, however, Barnet again carved out openings.

Taylor, who had driven over just before Kamdjo's goal, hit a shot into the ground and although Clarke saved, it was an uncomfortable stop as it bounced off his chest.

The home side were getting more than their fair share of the decisions, and a frustrated Constable was booked for dissent.

On the half hour, half the home crowd thought Barnet had regained the lead, because the PA announcer told them so!

A long-range punt forward was gathered by Clarke with some difficulty, under pressure, and as he dropped to the ground he carried the ball over the goalline.

But the referee pointed for a free-kick, indicating he had been fouled.

However, the PA announcer declared it a goal, only to realise embarrassed that it was instead a free-kick to Oxford.

Nevertheless, Clarke still had to listen to the odd chant of "dodgy keeper" from home supporters, something he is not accustomed to.

And the U's keeper made them eat their words with a superb save, at full stretch, to turn a 25-yard Kamdjo drive around a post for a corner.

Having had more than enough injury problems to deal with in the run-up to the game, with the loss of two centre backs, and Ryan Doble returning to Southampton for treatment on a groin strain, the last thing the U's needed was another casualty.

But Batt pulled up with what looked like a hamstring injury after a run, and he hobbled off after 41 minutes.

Worley headed off the line near the end of the first half, and Wright had to do similar, nodding away from in front of his goal, near the start of the second half.

But the visitors had more of the ball, as they attacked down the slope, after the break.

Josh Payne delivered a superb chipped free-kick into the danger area between keeper and defenders, but no-one, from either side, properly reacted to it.

United fell behind in the 59th minute when MacLean lost possession in the middle of the park.

Barnet attacked quickly, and Mark Hughes floated the ball over Clarke's head with a cross-shot from far out on the right.

Whether he meant it or not, only he will know, but it appeared more of a cross.

United had another scare when Taylor looked to have been brought down by Clarke, as Wright closed in, but the referee, who was very close, let play go on.

Alfie Potter came on for MacLean as United tried to hit back.

Excellent defending by captain Joe Devera, whipping the ball off the feet of Craddock, denied the striker a shooting opportunity in a great position, and Constable directed a header wide from Payne's free-kick.

With 12 minutes remaining, Chris Wilder's men equalised with a superb move.

Craddock played in Payne on the right, and from his low cross, Constable turned the ball in from five yards out.

Barnet threw everything at United at the finish, and in stoppage time, Clarke made a fine save to turn Taylor's 12-yard shot around his post.

Oxford Utd: Clarke; Batt (Purkiss 41), Worley, Wright, Tonkin; Payne, McLaren, Hall; MacLean (Potter 61), Constable, Craddock. Subs not used: Kinniburgh, Eastwood, Woodley, Marsh.