OXFORD City’s five-game unbeaten run was brought to a shuddering halt after a 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Maidstone United.

Ben Jefford picked up two yellow cards in the matter of minutes midway through the opening period of the Vanarama National League South clash.

And the ten men of City paid the price as their visitors took advantage of their extra man in the second half.

After Dan Wishart gave the visitors an early lead, Kyran Lofthouse brought things level shortly after the break.

However Matt McClure’s double and Justin Amaluzor’s strike, earned Maidstone victory.

City keeper Craig King was called into action twice inside the opening ten minutes.

But he was unable to stop the visitors going ahead just past the quarter-hour mark.

An attempted pass from Jefford to Finn Tapp in defence was cut out by Wishart, who slotted

home.

City’s first attempt came midway through the half, Josh Ashby firing over from a tight angle.

Jefford then changed the game with two minutes of madness.

After picking up a booking, the City man then slid in for the ball, but took the man and was shown a yellow card, followed by a red.

Eddie Jones produced a superb goal-saving block to deny McClure from doubling Maidstone’s lead.

A half-time re-shuffle from caretaker joint bosses Andy Ballard and Justin Merritt produced immediate rewards.

Just five minutes into the second period Lofthouse found space and fired home left-footed.

But they soon fell behind again, a swift counter-attack ending with McClure firing home.

The same player then made it 3-1, heading home from close range.

City brought on Jaanai Gordon in an attempt to get back into the game.

But their fate was sealed when Amaluzor burst down the right and into the box, before firing an effort across King’s goal and into the far corner.

Oxford City: King, Jones, Jefford, Ashby, Benyon, McEachran (Gordon 69), Owusu (Wiltshire HT), Self (Fleet HT), Berkoe, Lofthouse, Tapp. Subs not used: Rowe, Brown. Attendance: 344.