Oxford City Stars kept their play-off hopes bubbling with a 6-5 win at basement boys Peterborough Islanders and a 4-4 draw at home to high-flying Chelmsford Chieftains in their English National League Division 1 South double-header.

Stars were missing Dean Francis, Joe Edwards, Shannon Taylor and Mark Krater, who has decided to take a break from the game, for Saturday’s clash against Peterborough.

Youngster Josh Oliver received a call-up and Stars were boosted by Andrew Shurmer’s return.

Despite dominating, Stars had to wait until the second minute of the second period to open the scoring through Nick Oliver.

But, within a minute, James Pentecost skated through to beat Glen Jackson in the Oxford net.

Joe Boot and captain Darren Elliott then struck for Oxford, only for Peterborough to roar back with Dale Jowett, Steve Maile, Adrian Worth and Pentecost making it 5-3.

Stars came out for the final period determined to turn the game round, and Ken Forshee scored twice to haul them level.

James Scaife, who had replaced the injured Glen Jackson in the second period, had to be alert to keep Peterborough at bay.

But Stars kept pushing forward and Elliott lifted the puck over the Peterborough netminder after travelling with it from behind the goal to snatch victory.

Sunday saw Chelmsford visit Oxpens in a return of the previous week’s clash, in which Stars went down 5-4.

Francis and Taylor returned to Stars’ ranks, and Josh Florey replaced Oliver.

There was no repeat of the dreadful start Oxford made in their previous meeting when they shipped four quick goals.

Indeed it wasn’t until the final minute of the first period that Scaife was beaten by Alex Green.

Oxford fell further behind when Danny Hammond extended Chelmsford’s lead in the second minute of the second period.

But when Chieftains incurred two penalties in quick succession, Oxford took advantage of their numerical superiority and Shurmer netted with a powerplay goal.

However, Hammond restored Chelmsford’s two-goal cushion when he carried the puck out of his defensive zone before shooting past Scaife.

Within a minute, Elliott reduced the deficit with a second powerplay goal.

But Jaroslav Pavlus nicked a goal in the last minute of the period to make it 4-2 to the visitors.

Two quick penalties were once more called against Chelmsford at the opening of the final period.

With the numerical advantage and pressure building, Chieftains suffered yet another penalty, and Forshee reduced the deficit.

Oxford, with Paul Gore inspirational in defence, kept battling and with just four minutes left, Grant Bailey squeezed the puck home past Ben Clemments for the equaliser.