A FLYING start helped Oxford City Stars claim a 5-2 win against Bracknell Hornets at Oxpens.

Alan Green finished with a hat-trick for the improving side, who climbed to fourth place in English National League South Division 1.

The foundations for a third win in four games were laid early on, with the hosts racing into a 3-0 lead after just nine minutes.

Ex-Stars player Ben Ealey-Newman had the contest’s first chance, before Josh Florey and Joe Oliver went close at the other end.

The home side went ahead in the fourth minute when Brendan Baird and Darren Elliott combined to set up Green for his first goal.

Within a minute the lead was doubled, when Joe Edwards collected a pass from Dax Hedges and beat Hornets netminder Daniel Milton.

The visitors had chances to pull a goal back, but Stars were more clinical and Green made it 3-0 before the halfway mark in the first period.

Hornets reduced the arrears through Josh Martin before the first interval, but Stars still went in at the break firmly in charge.

Stars keeper Tom Annetts made a smart double save early in the second period to prevent basement side Bracknell getting more of a foothold in the game.

Instead, the home side stretched their advantage five minutes after the restart.

Green completed his hat-trick with a tidy finish from Florey’s pass to make it 4-1.

Incredibly, the game almost reached the halfway stage without either side collecting a penalty.

The run ended when Stars’ Jason Ikin was sent to the sin bin for holding in the 27th minute.

After killing the penalty successfully, Simon Anderson’s side went on to claim a four-goal cushion.

Jesse Lye was on target for only his second Stars goal, assisted by Jaroslav Cesky.

It virtually sealed the victory with just under half the game remaining, but Stars were unable to add to their tally for the rest of the evening.

Indeed, the final goal came with Michal Oravec’s 34th-minute strike for Hornets.

The highlight of the final period came when Annetts saved a penalty shot from Daniel Hughes.

Cesky had the best chances to add a late flourish to the scoreline, but he was out of luck as Ikin and Ealey-Newman finished the game serving penalties, both for holding.