Oxford City Stars' 2-1 win at Bracknell Hornets in the English National League was marred by a mass brawl in the last minute.

With eight seconds to go, Oxford netminder Jamie Thompson was tripped up in the goal area by Bracknell's Carl Graham.

He snapped and went chasing after Graham whereupon fights broke out with every player on the ice involved.

Bracknell's 6-4 numerical advantage meant that with all other Oxford's players occupied in even-handed tussles, Thompson was left taking on three Hornets players on his own.

This would normally mean at least two players being handed major penalties for joining someone else's fight - the third man in rule.

But instead referee Ian Hayden ejected just Thompson and Graham, allowing Bracknell to keep their two-man advantage for the last few seconds.

David Tyler went into the Oxford net for a baptism of fire, and spent what seemed like rather more than eight seconds being hacked at before the puck was forced over the line.

However, the net had moved and when the referee realised that the clock showed time had run out, he disallowed the goal and ended the game.

The main incident of a goalless first period was the ejection of Bracknell's Matt Ovenden with a match penalty for roughing late in the session.

More chances were created in the second period and, in the 28th minute, Dan Prachar hit the puck home with a first-time shot to give Stars the lead with a powerplay goal.

It was then Bracknell's turn to have the one-man advantage.

But when Prachar broke up the play in his own zone, he released defenceman Nick Eden who broke out and powered home a shot into the top corner from just inside the Bracknell zone.

A lapse in concentration late in the period saw Oxford leave Bracknell's Ian Clarke plenty of space to hit a slapshot past Thompson.

The referee had been offering little protection to Thompson in the Oxford goal, allowing Bracknell players to stand next to him.

He also took no action about sly punches and slashes and halfway through another evenly matched period there was a lengthy delay, while Thompson was treated after being run into and punched by Bracknell's Richard Hardy.

The temperature was rising and when Darren Elliott was handed a two-minute penalty for hooking it gave Hornets a one-man advantage.

A delay-of-game penalty for Eden, whose attempted clearance hit the roof of the arena made that a two-man edge.

With Bracknell also withdrawing their netminder, it was backs-to-the- wall stuff for Oxford before the game came to its ugly conclusion.

On the plus side, new signing Sean Martin had a decent run-out, while veteran Scott Gough was Stars' player of the match.

Oxford scorers: D Prachar 1+1, N Eden 1+1, D Elliott 0+1.