MERCILESS Oxford City decimated hosts Margate 5-0 in a major boost to their bid to escape the Vanarama National League South danger zone.

The visitors were dominant throughout, taking a two-goal lead before half-time through Godfrey Poku and Robbie Cundy.

Substitute Mike Fondop notched twice after the break following Tom Winters’s effort, with the home side also reduced to ten men after Lewis Taylor’s dismissal.

The scoreline could even have been weighted more heavily in City’s favour if they had not been denied an opening goal after just eight minutes.

Jefferson Louis poked home after a corner had been headed back across the six-yard box, but his celebrations were cut short as referee Chris Pollard spotted an infringement.

Undeterred, City continued to control play and were finally rewarded six minutes before half-time when Poku seized on a sloppy pass out of the area, before calmly slotting home the opener.

City doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time when a ball into the box was nodded down for Cundy to hammer home.

Just a minute after the restart it was 3-0, when James Roberts crossed for Winters to steer into the net at the back post.

And Fondop, who almost signed for Margate before joining City in September, got in on the act shortly after his introduction around the hour mark, latching onto a delightful ball from Jonny Giles before chipping it over the keeper.

Taylor was given his marching orders shortly after, picking up a second yellow card for a reckless late challenge on Giles.

City took advantage of the extra space, with Roberts and Winters both going close to adding a fifth.

Then Fondop was on hand to complete the rout three minutes from time, tapping in from close range after Poku reacted quickest to collect Reece Fleet’s deflected shot and square for the unmarked striker to tap in.

Oxford City: Belford, Poku, Grant (Ngathe 73), Ashby (Davies 73), Henderson, Cundy, Giles, Fleet, Roberts, Louis (Fondop 61), Winters. Sub not used: Ofuso.

Attendance: 493.