Luke Coulson laid claim to Oxford City’s goal of the season accolade with a stunning strike away to leaders Ebbsfleet United on Saturday.

But it wasn’t enough to earn victory for second-placed City, who were unable to close the five-point gap between the Vanarama National League South pacesetters.

Coulson put the visitors in front just after the half-hour mark, but Matt Godden’s equaliser right on the stroke of half-time ensured the points were shared.

But City finished the game with ten men after Dave King was sent off for the second successive Saturday.

Midfielder Mamadou Fofana went straight into Justin Merritt's side after rejoining on a month-long loan deal from Barrow, Both sides had early penalty appeals rejected.

Ebbsfleet's Danny Kedwell went down in the area under pressure from Alejandro-Adrian Santiago and City had a big appeal at the other end waved away after Kynan Isaac was bundled over.

City keeper Laurie Walker was almost caught out by the blustery conditions as a lofted cross was caught by the wind, forcing him to bat the ball onto the head of the onrushing Tom Bonner and away from goal.

It needed something special to separate the sides, and in the 33rd minute Coulson provided it.

When City were awarded a free-kick 20 yards out, Omari Sterling-James touched it back to Coulson, who flicked the ball up before belting a stunning volley over the head of the keeper and in via the underside of the bar.

The hosts were almost gifted a goal when Santiago slid in to divert a cross just wide of a City post.

But right on the stroke of half-time, Ebbsfleet made it 1-1, Godden racing clear onto a through ball from John Paul Kissock and slipping it past the exposed Walker.

After spending much of the second half pinned in their own area, City’s closest chance of a goal came when substitute Declan Benjamin appeared to be tripped in the area, but again no penalty was awarded.

And the referee didn’t endear himself to the visitors when he sent off King in stoppage time.

King brought down Godden after the striker had got the wrong side of him, seeing red when he was deemed to have denied a goalscoring opportunity despite the presence of covering defenders.

Then Walker twice denied the former Wimbledon and Gillingham striker Kedwell.

Oxford City: Walker, King, Lapoujade, Fleet, Santiago, Arzamendi,Coulson, Fofana, Sterling-James (McDonagh HT), Lafuente (Pond 85), Issac (Benjamin 75). Subs not used: Pifarré, Stonehouse.

Attendance: 1,098.