All of the goals were scored in the first-half but the second-half was just as eventful with referee Oliver Mackay brandishing two red-cards.

Ross Jenkins and Andy Ballard made two changes to the starting line-up, Harry Kyprianou and Lewis Coyle replaced Zac McEachran and Nana Owusu.

It was always going to be a tough game against a Maidstone side flying in Vanarama National League South and a full-time model but the match was end-to-end from the start.

Elliot Benyon almost gave the Hoops the lead when he volleyed straight at Yousif Mersin from close-range and Josh Ashby fired just over from a free-kick.

Then Maidstone took the lead with a moment of brilliance on fourteen minutes. Juan Luque curled the ball into the top-corner from twenty-five yards out leaving Ben Dudzinski with no chance.

The hosts doubled their lead in the twenty-fifth minute when Joe Ellul headed home from a corner as the Stones took control of the game.

It could well have been 3-0 soon after if it wasn’t for Dudzinski’s heroics. Somehow the Hoops number one tipped a Michael Phillips header past the post to the bemusement of the Gallagher Stadium.

City were down but not out and seven minutes from the break Joe Iaciofano dragged the Hoops right back into the game when he rounded goalkeeper Mersin to place the ball into an empty net.

Half-Time: Maidstone 2-1 Oxford City

The Hoops had to be solid at the back after the interval with Ben Dudzinski making multiple saves and Canice Carroll throwing his body at the ball to block another Stones attempt.

Fifteen minutes from time, the hosts were reduced to ten men. Regan Booty went flying into Zico Asare, a challenge that warranted a yellow card. Booty with a yellow already to his name, rightly walked. Luckily, Asare wasn’t hurt.

Maidstone kept on throwing themselves into challenges and they were lucky to keep ten-men on the field when Luque bit Josh Ashby. However, the referee waved away the protests from Ashby (showing his newly teeth-indented arm) and he opted to book both players.

Maidstone almost added a third when Christie Pattison raced through on goal one v one. However, more Dudzinski heroics denied the lively striker.

There was still time for more controversy. In the fifth minute of additional time, Harvey Bradbury was pushed over in the corner and was sent-off for his protests.

The final whistle was sounded on a fiery affair and City will go again on Saturday as we travel to Chelmsford.

Starting XI: Dudzinski, Asare, Harmon, Ashby, Matsuzaka, Coyle (Clark 79’), Fleet ©, Benyon, Iaciofano(Bradbury 79’), Carroll (Owusu 62’), Kyprianou

Subs not used: Bancroft, Rowan

Attendance: 2,673