Oxford City suffer fourth goalkeeper red card in six games

Oxford City are counting the cost of another disciplinary lapse after having their fourth goalkeeper sent off in just six Conference North games.

Turkish debutant Ali Aksoy saw red on Saturday against Tamworth, who took advantage of his dismissal to win 4-3.

Spaniard Salva de la Cruz has gone twice while Mark Scott saw red against Brackley Town earlier in February.

"Lightning doesn't strike twice but four times. It's very hard to take," City manager Justin Merritt said.

City were leading 3-2 when Aksoy was dismissed on 50 minutes for a professional foul.

Oxford City are now ninth is the league table and Merritt is aware disciplinary issues are costing his side, who have been forced to field outfield players in goal more than once this year.

"We've had too many sending-offs this season," he told BBC Radio Oxford. "We've had this conversation too many times and it's really cost us today.

"I was getting a bit of a grilling from our American president as to why we didn't have a second keeper on the bench.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing. It was hard enough finding one keeper, let alone two.

"It backfired today.

"We are not alien to playing with 10 men this season and credit to us we still created some very good chances. We let in two terrible goals from our perspective to ultimately lose the game."