Oxford City let slip a 1-0 lead and had a man sent off as they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Lowestoft Town in Vanarama Conference North on Saturday.

But it could have been a lot worse had it not been for a top display from their former Luton keeper Nathan Abbey, 36, who made his debut with Mark Scott unfit.

Kynan Isaac headed City into an early lead, but goals from Jake Reed and Chris Henderson gave the home side the points.

Defender Alejandro-Adrian Santiago was also sent off for his second bookable offence to complete a miserable afternoon for City.

Latest Sport news

After Abbey kept out Dawid Radomski at close range in the opening minute, City grew into the game.

And they took the lead after 15 minutes when Paul Stonehouse’s excellent cross was headed on by Adi Yussuf for Isaac to nod in.

City, at this point, looked to be at their rampant best and could have doubled the lead several times.

Santiago saw his close-range effort superbly tipped over the bar and Darren Mullings headed just wide.

But just when it seemed the visitors would romp home, they conceded an equaliser in calamitous circumstances.

The hosts broke forward, but a promising move appe-ared to have been wasted when a misplaced pass from Reed found a City shirt.

But a mis-hit clearance somehow found its way back to Reed, who made no mistake second time around and fired into the bottom corner.

And City found themselves behind at the break when Henderson ghosted in at the back post to volley home on the stroke of half-time.

City should have been piling on the pressure for an equaliser in the second half, but instead they were further indebted to Abbey for keeping them in the game with a string of acrobatic saves.

His reactions denied Reed a second from point-blank range, before batting away Lee Smith’s powerful header.

In fact, it was only after Santiago was given his marching orders in the 74th minute that City ventured forwards.

But by that point it was too late and despite a sustained assault on the Lowestoft goal in the final stages they could find no way through.

Oxford City: Abbey, Henderson, Stonehouse, Pond, Lapoujade, Santiago, Isaac (Barcelos 65), Mullings (Hoban 69), Yussuf (Jackson HT), Rodriguez, Winters. Sub not used: Benjamin.

Referee: S Plane.

Attendance: 641.

  •  Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.