Jon Arzamendi and David King were both sent off, but Oxford City’s nine men overcame the odds to claim a superb win against Bishops Stortford.

Arzamendi was controversially dismissed – in a case of mistaken identity – after just 12 minutes of the Vanarama National League South game, and was followed in the 49th minute by King, with the score at 1-1.

Bradley Bubb fired City in front early on and although Kieran Bywater levelled from the penalty spot, second-half goals from Kynan Isaac and Luke Coulson won it for the outnumbered hosts.

They took the lead in just the third minute when Isaac fed Bubb, who guided a left-footed shot past the keeper from the edge of the area.

City should have been two up when Coulson lobbed the keeper, but it was disallowed by referee Anthony Serrano – the first of several contentious decisions.

Barely four minutes later, disaster struck for the hosts when Morgan Ferrer was tripped in the penalty area as he raced through on goal.

Alejandro Adrian Santiago appeared to be the culprit, but Serrano brandished the red card at Arzamendi, despite the defender’s protestations, and Bywater stepped up to hammer home the spot-kick.

City’s chances of victory looked even slimmer four minutes into the second half when King was given his marching orders for a second yellow card.

Shortly after the hour mark, however, City edged back in front.

A quickly-taken corner found Isaac , who turned and unleashed an unstoppable left-footed shot.

Victory was assured six minutes from time thanks to a spectacular strike from Coulson.

Shrugging off three defenders, the former Manchester City youth player curled a delightful effort into the net from 20 yards, celebrating with his eight remaining teammates in a heap on the ground.

City aim to keep up their form at Suton United tonight.

Oxford City: Walker, King, Lapoujade, Del Alamo (Pond 8), Santiago, Arzamendi, Coulson, Fleet, Bubb (McDonagh HT), Lafuente, Isaac. Subs not used: Sterling-James, Pifarré.

Attendance: 278.