OXFORD City Stars showed their character as they bou-nced back from defeat 24 hours earlier to cruise to a 3-0 victory over Bristol Pitbulls in South Division 1.

The win was just the tonic Stars needed after a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Bracknell Hornets.

The match against against Bristol was eagerly-anticipated following a feisty away clash two weeks ago.

But there was no repeat of the fisticuffs as Stars dominated.

They took the lead in the last minute of a cagey first period when Gareth Endicott slotted home on a powerplay while former player Richie Hargreaves was in the sin-bin.

The second period followed a similar pattern, although Endicott had a goal controversially ruled out when his shot appeared to hit the frame at the back of the net before bouncing back into the playing area.

The referee ruled that the puck had not crossed the line, and instead awarded a face-off to the visitors.

At the end of the period, Oxford’s man-of-the-match and Hargreaves were given two-minute penalties after a minor scuffle, while Hargreaves was given a further two minutes in the sin-bin early in the third period for illegal use of the stick.

During this powerplay, Stars doubled their lead as Ken Forshee coolly shot the puck into the net.

Endicott grabbed his second to complete a comfortable victory.

Missing a number of key players, Stars slipped to defeat at Bracknell Hornets a day earlier.

Stars were without Alan Green, Andrew Shumer, Dale White and James Francis-Barris, but took an early lead.

Several early chances were thwarted by home netminder David Wride, before Endicott opened the scoring.

Bracknell fought back to lead 2-1 as Ben Duggan and Tom Fisher netted.

The home side increased their lead on a powerplay in the second period.

The puck was collected by Duggan, who skated through the Oxford defence before being fouled as he shaped to shoot.

Duggan coolly lifted the resulting penalty stroke over Thompson to extend Bracknell’s lead.

In the third period, Stars struggled to find a way past Wride before Grant Bailey scored a late consolation, but it was too little, too late.

l OXFORD City Stars’ second string cruised to a 6-0 win at Romford in South Division 2, with goals from Nico Oliver (3), Joe Boot (2) and Jack Robinson.