DAVID King was sent off as Oxford City slipped to a shock defeat at basement side Basingstoke Town.

King was dismissed four minutes before half-time for a rash two-footed lunge on Simon Dunn, leaving City to play with ten men for the majority of the Vanarama National League South clash.

And they paid the price in the second half as Liam Enver-Marum struck twice to inflict a blow to their play-off aspirations.

Although King’s dismissal was pivotal, City were off the pace from the start.

Goalkeeper Laurie Walker denied Dunn and kept out Reece Connolly’s volley just before the half-hour mark, with Enver-Marum somehow firing the rebound wide.

And if keeping the hosts out was not enough for Walker, he was also City’s most potent attacking threat, almost giving them the lead against the run of play in comical circumstances.

His long punt in the 37th minute evaded everyone, sailing over his stranded opposite number before bouncing up onto the crossbar.

King’s dismissal four minutes later turned the game in the hosts’ favour and it took them just six second-half minutes to make it count.

Tom Bird threaded a ball through to Enver-Marum, who slid the ball home.

Things could have been worse if Connolly hadn’t blazed over.

There was an air of inevitability about the second when it came 15 minutes from time.

Lee Henderson’s backpass was charged down and rebounded to Enver-Marum, who found the bottom corner.

There was still time for City’s Declan Benjamin to go close, but his effort was palmed away by Aaron Howe in the final minute.

The defeat ended City’s three-game winning run, but they remain in fifth position and have a chance to leapfrog Truro City, who visit Marsh Lane this afternoon.

Oxford City: Walker, Bevans, Stonehouse (Santiago HT), Fleet Henderson, King, Whichelow (Lafuente HT), Pond, Bubb, McDonagh (Benjamin 61), Isaac. Subs not used: Arzamendi, Lapoujade.

Attendance: 515.