Oxford City 1

Tamworth 0

Oxford City remarkably overcame the sending-off of goalkeeper Salva de la Cruz for the second time in a week to beat in-form Tamworth in Vanarama Conference North at home, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

The visitors had won their previous 12 league games, but had no answer to Adi Yussuf’s scrappy second-half goal despite the dismissal of Salva just moments later for handling the ball outside the area.

Captain Darren Pond should have put City in front when Paul Stonehouse found him unmarked at the back post, but his header drifted across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

Full back Luke Coulson also went close after cutting inside onto his left foot before seeing his shot well saved by Tamworth goalkeeper James Belshaw.

Reece Styche had a fantastic opportunity to put the visitors into the lead after 55 minutes, but Salva came out well to smother at his feet as he bore down on goal.

And two minutes later, City finally broke the deadlock, with Marlon Jackson determinedly bustling through a crowded Tamworth box before managing to squeeze the ball across to Yussuf, who shot home from close quarters.

But just as City’s fortunes appeared to be on the up, they were dealt another blow as Salva came rushing out to claim an aerial ball and was promptly dismissed by referee Timothy Wood for handling outside his area.

It came just a week after his red card in City’s 3-0 defeat to Barrow.

And, with regular substitute keeper Mark Scott out with a back injury, they again had to turn to an outfield player to fill in for him.

While Pond took the gloves last week, this time it was midfielder Declan Benjamin’s turn, though he fortunately was given little to do by a toothless Tamworth forward line.

Styche again fluffed his lines six minutes from time after beating the offside trap, blazing over with just Benjamin to beat.

City even had the chance to make it safe in stoppage time as substitute Felipe Barcelos teed up Yussuf for a second, but the goalscorer this time fired wide.

That didn’t matter, however, as City held on for their first win since New Year’s Day.

Oxford City: Salva, Coulson, Stonehouse, Fofana, Henderson, Lapoujade, Jackson, Pond (Wilson 71), Yussuf, Rodriguez (Barcelos 71), Benjamin. Subs not used: Winters, Del Alamo, Murombedzi.

Referee: T Wood.

Attendance: 436.