Lewes suffered an eighth successive Blue Square premier defeat in cruel circumstances as they went down 2-1 away to in-form Oxford United.

Joe Keehan fired the Rooks into an early lead which was cancelled out by half-time.

Elliott Charles then missed a penalty but the visitors looked good value for a point until Luke Foster headed home a corner eight minutes from time.

Shaun Wilkinson was then sent off for violent conduct and must serve a three-match ban.

The Rooks suffered a blow before kick-off as Michael Standing dropped out with a back injury.

Stefan Cox came in for his first start for a month while the fit-again Guy Butters finally made his debut at centre-back alongside former Albion team-mate Danny Cullip.

David Wheeler was again missing due to England Schools commitments.

There was an early scare for Lewes as Sam Fisk had to clear Luke Foster's fourth-minute header off the line following an Adam Murray corner.

Lewes had gone more than 11 hours without a league goal going into this game. Fittingly, it was manager Kevin Keehan's son who finally delivered after 689 minutes of waiting.

The game was 11 minutes old when Stefan Cox played a square pass to Joe Keehan who was allowed to advance before firing past goalkeeper Billy Turley from 20 yards.

Oxford could have drawn level two minutes later but Craig Farrell fired wide of the far post after Rikki Banks came out to narrow the angle.

The let off was temporary as another Banks error allowed the hosts back into the game on 17 minutes. The goalkeeper, who made a dreadful mistake in the FA Trophy at Havant recently, totally misjudged Murray's free-kick from the left as it flew straight in.

Banks responded well by beating away a free-kick from Murray in a similar position on 33 minutes.

The Rooks had a chance to go back in front just before the break after some slack defending let Cox in but he could not get a good connection with the ball.

Cox and Keehan then had attempts off target as Lewes finished the half with a flurry.

Within two minutes of the restart Wilkinson and Keehan both had shots blocked after good work down the left by Cox.

Lewes should have been back in front on 51 minutes but Charles' penalty was saved by Billy Turley after Keehan was chopped down by Adam Chapman.

At the other end Banks made a good save from Lewis Haldane.

Oxford pressed hard for a winner in the final 20 minutes but Lewes seemed to be holding out comfortably.

However, their defences were breached eight minutes from time following a corner which the linesman had called as a goalkick.

Craig Nelthorpe's flag kick was met by big defender Foster who headed into the bottom corner.

Lewes pressed the self-destruct bottom three minutes later when Wilkinson was sent off for violent conduct for flooring Nelthorpe after the pair clashed.

Lewes: Rikki Banks; Anthony Barness, Danny Cullip, Guy Butters, Sam Fisk; Chris Breach, Shaun Wilkinson, Joe Keehan, Stefan Cox; Elliott Charles, Kieron St Aimie. Subs: Fred Foreman, Grant Hall, Seb Wallis-Tayler, Jay Liburd, Chris Winterton.

Oxford United: Billy Turley, Damian Batt, Chris Willmott, Luke Foster, Chris Carruthers, Lewis Haldane, Adam Chapman, Eddie Hutchinson, Craig Nelthorpe, Adam Murray, Craig Farrell. Subs: Matt Day, Yemi Odubade, James Clarke, Matt Taylor, Ben Hinchliffe.

Referee: Mr P. Melin (Hampshire).