Gloucester City 1

Oxford City 7

The goals rained in for Oxford City as they stunned Gloucester City in Vanarama Conference North at Cheltenham Town’s Whaddon Road yesterday.

City recorded their biggest win of the season with skipper Darren Pond scoring twice and Tom Winters, Jose Lapoujade, Felipe Barcelos, Declan Benjamin and Javier Rodriguez also netting.

Ross Staley provided the home side’s sole reply.

It took City 13 minutes to open the scoring, Pond unleashing a stunning strike from the edge of the area which arrowed into the top left-hand corner.

The lead lasted just two minutes though, the hosts levelling when Staley’s looping header somehow evaded goalkeeper Salva de la Cruz to settle in the bottom corner.

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Despite losing Lee Henderson to an ankle injury, City pressed forward and just six minutes later restored their lead as Winters’s effort found its way through a crowded box and in off a post.

Just moments later they netted again, Lapoujade heading in a Winters corner.

The hosts remained threatening themselves and could have reduced the deficit shortly before the break when Femi Orenuga was denied at point-blank range by an excellent Salva block.

And with half-time looming, City strengthened their grip on the game when Barcelos slid in at the far post to turn in another Winters cross.

A stunning strike from Benjamin made it 5-1 ten minutes into the second half, the substitute turning on the edge of the area before curling a shot past the despairing dive of goalkeeper Paul White.

City introduced Rodriguez and Lewis Wilson to the fray shortly after the hour mark.

And the former made an in - stant impact, firing home emphatically for City’s sixth.

City were denied when Paul Stonehouse’s header was ruled out for offside.

But they didn’t have to wait long for goal No 7, Pond letting fly with an unstoppable 25-yard effort to cap a memorable victory.

It was the second time the visitors had scored seven this season after winning 7-2 at Boston United in September.

And the result lifts City up to seventh place, just four points behind Guiseley, who occupy the final play-off spot.

City will be hoping to maintain this rampant form when they entertain North Ferriby United on Wednesday.

Oxford City: Salva, Coulson, Stonehouse, Lapoujade, Santiago (Wilson 64), Henderson (Benjamin 19), Fofana, Pond, Yussuf (Rodriguez 64), Barcelos, Winters. Subs not used: Del Alamo, Scott.

Referee: M Amphlett.

Attendance: 354.