OXFORD City ended their nine-match winless run with an away victory over ten-man Margate, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

Matt Whichelow put City in front in spectacular fashion and Matt Bevans made it safe late on after Jake Goodman was sent off 16 minutes from time.

The hosts were unable to make their early pressure count in the Vanarama National League South clash, with Brett Johnson firing over the bar.

City looked threatening on the break and soon began to assert themselves, creating and then squandering chances.

Bradley Bubb fired wide when clean through and Conor McDonagh was denied by Chris Lewington.

The Margate goalkeeper was again called into action to prevent a spectacular goal from Bubb, reacting quickly to save his acrobatic effort from the edge of the area.

But there was no stopping Whichelow’s sensational str-ike five minutes before half-time as the forward curled a beautiful effort in off the underside of the bar from just inside the area.

After the break, the hosts attempted to find an equaliser but lacked any cutting edge, with Glenn Wilson’s volley wide of the left-hand post their closest effort.

And their hopes were dashed on 74 minutes when Goodman was dismissed for a late challenge on Marlon Jackson, which resulted in the winger being forced off.

Reece Fleet blasted the resulting free-kick narrowly wide, but City would not have to wait long to make the game safe.

Nine minutes later, Bevans latched onto a beautifully weighted ball from substitute Julen Lafuente before rolling it beneath the keeper to seal victory for City and end the long wait for a win.

Oxford City: Walker, Bevans, Stonehouse, Fleet, Henderson, King, Whichelow (Jackson 50, Lafuente 75), Pond, Bubb, McDonagh (Patterson 79), Isaac. Subs not used: Santiago, Arzamendi.

Attendance: 669.