ICE HOCKEY: Stars in play-off blow

8:00am Thursday 22nd February 2007

OXFORD City Stars must now win their remaining two English National League South Division matches to have any chance of reaching the play-offs after a 5-3 defeat at Lee Valley Lions.

And even if they beat Milton Keynes and Swindon Wildcats this weekend, Oxford will still have to rely on Peterborough losing at Bracknell to sneak a top-four finish.

Lee Valley almost conceded after two minutes, but were saved by netminder Glen Jackson.

Jackson continued in fine form as a flurry of shots headed his way, but a pass from Tom Hooper allowed David Gregory to knock in Oxford's first goal after seven minutes.

The same players were instrumental in Oxford's second goal two minutes later.

This time, assists went to Gregory and Joe Oliver as Hooper flipped the puck over Jackson's shoulder and into the top corner.

Lions did not lose enthusiasm and in the 19th minute, Ben Williams scored for the home side, the assist going to Scott Beeson.

In the second period, Beeson took a pass from Paul O'Neill, but the shot went straight into Oxford netminder James Skaife.

Darren Elliott then scored the third goal for the visitors on 22 minutes, the assist going to Dean Francis.

Andrzej Maslak battled hard in attack and eventually found his way through to bring the Lions back to within one goal.

Maslak equalised in the 37th minute with a goal that was assisted by Williams and O'Neill.

He scored his hat-trick a minute later, thanks to a fantastic pass from Michael Jacobs.

Just before the end of the period, Lee Valley's Michael Ranby and Oxford's Adrian Haigh were both sent off for fighting.

Oxford captain Darren Elliott was given two minutes in the sin bin for interference.

Lions' fifth goal did eventually come on 50 minutes courtesy of Beeson, assisted by James Scott-Joseph and Romanas Fedotovas.

Oxford pulled Skaife from the ice in a desperate comeback bid, but Lee Valley held on for victory.