OXFORD City’s new loan signings made an immediate impact as they boosted their battle against relegation with a convincing 4-1 victory at ten-man Hemel Hempstead on Saturday.

The high-flying visitors were humbled as Mark Jones’s side produced their best display of 2018 to go four points clear of the drop zone.

In midweek, Jones signed striker Sam Nombe, from Milton Keyes Dons, and Frankie Musonda, from Luton Town.

While Musonda tightened things up in midfield, Nombe put the icing on the cake with City’s fourth and final goal.

Hemel, who began the day in fifth, made the better start.

David Moyo forced City keeper Craig King to tip the ball on to his near post with a shot from a tight angle inside the first two minutes.

The Tudors also had the majority of possession and territory in the opening quarter of an hour.

But this all changed in the 16th minute when City took the lead.

Freddie Grant rose well from a corner to power in a header that former City keeper Laurie Walker could palm away to Reece Fleet, who gleefully drove the rebound into the net.

Moments later, Walker was sent off for handling outside his area.

City made their numerical advantage count in the 24th minute with a scrappy goal, Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain forcing home from a scramble in the six-yard box.

Ten-man Hemel refused to give up but there were no more no clear-cut chances before the break.

Shortly after half-time, Fleet let fly with an ambitious shot from 25 yards, which Walker’s replacement Dillon Barnes tipped over.

The hosts got themselves back in the game through veteran Darren Ward’s headed goal on the hour.

City refused to let Hemel back into the game and made it 3-1 in the 78th

minute.

Oxlade-Chamberlain broke down the right and while the defence were distracted by Nombe’s run, he fed Godfrey Poku, who shot home from just inside the penalty area.

Six minutes later, Nombe wrapped up the scoring following great inter-play with Rob Sinclair.

Oxford City: King, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Jones 85), Stevens, Poku, Musonda, Oastler, McEachran (Nombe 67), Fleet (Fofana 85), Paterson, Sinclair, Grant. Sub not used: Forde.

Attendance: 358.