TEN-MAN Oxford City pushed hosts Woking all the way before falling to a 2-1 defeat in last night’s second round replay, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

City had to play for an hour with ten men after Alejandro-Adrian Santiago was sent off for a foul on former Oxford United striker Dean Morgan.

Another ex-United man, midfielder Josh Payne, then struck to cancel out Greg Pearson’s opener and John Goddard won it for the Vanarama Conference side with a second-half wonder strike.

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City got off to the best possible start, taking the lead inside three minutes when Declan Benjamin raced to the bye line before pulling the ball back for Pearson to hammer in from six yards.

The hosts were stunned and took a long while to recover as they were easily contained by City.

However, Woking opened the visitors up shortly before the half-hour mark when Kevin Betsy’s chipped cross found Jack Marriott, who headed wide.

Just minutes later, City were dealt a cruel double blow when defender Santiago was harshly sent off for a tug on striker Morgan.

Payne then stepped up to compound City’s misery, firing home the resulting free-kick.

Buoyed, the hosts pressed forward and could have taken the lead as Goddard’s swerved through several challenges before shooting wide.

City goalkeeper Salva de la Cruz then did excellently to keep out Marriott again, blocking from close range after Joey Jones’s shot fell into the striker’s path.

The visitors were indebted to the Spanish stopper for keeping them in the game after the break, getting down remarkably to keep out close-range efforts from Marriott and Betsy.

City remained threatening on the break and had the ball in the net after a flowing passing move culminated with a beautiful ball from Benjamin to substitute Felipe Barcelos, but he was ruled offside.

And just moments later the hosts took the lead when Goddard unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt into the top corner from 25 yards out.

Boss Justin Merritt threw on attackers Adi Yussuf and Bidemi Afolabi in a last desperate attempt to level the scores, but tired legs took their toll and City’s efforts went unrewarded.

Oxford City: De La Cruz, Benjamin, Stonehouse, Del Alamo (Afolabi 78), Pond, Santiago, Jackson, Wilson, Pearson (Yussuf 69), Rodriguez, Winters (Barcelos 64). Sub not used: Scott.

Referee: N Lugg.

Attendance: 555.

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