A ROLLERCOASTER weekend saw Oxford City Stars end their winless streak and suffer the heaviest defeat of their season.

The seven-game barren run was emphatically put to bed with a 7-0 victory at Streatham Redhawks.

But the squad were brought back to earth 24 hours later, when indiscipline contributed to a 10-4 loss against struggling Solent Devils at Oxpens.

Stars’ losing run in November began against Streatham, but they made amends with a terrific all-round performance.

The visitors came flying out of the traps, and after several near-misses, opened the scoring in the sixth minute through Jaroslav Cesky.

At the other end, Tom Annetts had an outstanding night, making 32 saves to claim the shut-out.

On the one occasion he was beaten, by a George Norcliffe shot, the puck rebounded off the frame of the goal.

Stars had to wait until the second minute of the second period to extend their lead, as Darren Elliott finished off a pass from Jesse Lye, who went on to claim a hat-trick of assists.

Ben Paynter made it 3-0 just before the halfway mark, before two goals in 21 seconds made the points safe.

Dominic Hopkins, a former Redhawk, slammed in after Elliott’s shot was parried and moments later Joe Edwards bagged the fifth goal.

There was still time to stretch the lead before the end of the period, Hallam Wilson firing home seconds after returning from the penalty box.

A terrific solo effort from Edwards provided the only goal of the third period, rounding off a stylish win.

Stars looked like they would pick up against Solent where they had left off against Streatham when Elliott opened the scoring in the second game of the weekend.

But the contest turned after Alex Murray equalised. Cesky took exception to the visitors’ celebrations and cross checked a Solent player.

He was ejected from the game and Devils were handed a five-minute powerplay, during which Mark Pitts and Richard Facey put them 3-1 ahead.

Drew Campbell edged them clear early in the second period and although Wilson reduced the arrears, Murray and Facey were again on target to put Solent 6-2 up.

Annetts was replaced in goal by Mark Duffy, but he conceded two goals to Aidan Doughty, sandwiching a Brendan Baird strike, at the start of the third period.

Another powerplay allowed Murray to complete his hat-trick.

Baird’s second goal of the night provided little consolation and Solent had the final word when ex-Stars player Mason Wild scored with seconds remaining.