King’s Lynn put themselves back in the play-off picture with home win against Oxford City in the National League North

King's Lynn Town hoisted themselves back into the play-off picture with a hard-fought 2-1 home success over ten-man Oxford City tonight.

The visitors were reduced to ten men in the opening minute after Canice Carroll was shown a straight red card for bringing down Jonny Margetts just outside the box with the Lynn forward being deemed the last man.

Having an extra man so early gave Lynn a huge boost in front of more than 1,600 fans - but they were made to work hard for all three points after heading into the interval with a two-goal advantage.

Lynn got their noses in front in the 11th minute as Josh Hmami delivered the ball on a plate for Ross Crane to score with a cushioned header at the far post.

Adam Lakeland's side dominated the possession stats and remained patient against a visiting outfit that came into the game on the back of three successive defeats.

Lynn's second goal arrived three minutes before the interval with Hmami again putting the ball on a plate for Crane to score his second.

The home side almost added a third through the hard-working Hmami before the visitors began to give Lynn some anxious moments.

Jayden Carbon was a real handful with his pace up top and his 68th-minute goal gave Lynn an unnecessary scare for the final 20 minutes.

King’s Lynn Town: Jones, Ronan, Wilson, McFadden, Armstrong, Johnson (McCammon 57), Taylor (C), Hmami, Hughes (Barnes 57), Crane (Crowe 90), Margetts (Omotayo 70). Subs not used: Forde-Brown.

Goals: Crane 12, 41

Oxford City: Walker, Burley (Jones 64), Ashby, Coyle (Ezennolim 78), Fleet, McEachran, Carroll, Scott, Willcox, Carbon (Kpekawa 90, Drewe. Subs not used: Ezennolim, Potter, Croker.

Goal: Carbon 68

Att: 1,606