OXFORD City Stars recovered from a shaky start to win 6-4 at home to Bracknell Hornets

This was Stars sixth and last English National League clash of the season against the South Division 1’s basement side – and they remained unbeaten with four wins and two draws.

But that record looked in danger when the visitors held a 3-0 lead.

Hornets went ahead after only 35 seconds when Daniel Hughes intercepted Hallam Wilson’s pass to beat Stars’ netminder Mark Duffy.

A scuffle in front of Duffy resulted in the Hornets’ second goal, Benjamin Ealey-Newman scoring from Michal Oravec’s assist.

Things became even worse for Stars, when Darren Elliott incurred a match penalty for slew-footing Harvey Hind-Pitcher.

The unfortunate Bracknell player was taken to hospital with a suspected broken ankle.

Trailing 2-0 at the end of the first period, Stars went even further behind to a goal from Oravec.

Stars’ response was immediate with two goals in 90 seconds from Brendan Baird and Josh Florey.

The visitors restored their two-goal advantage through William Stead.

Less than a minute later Joonas Liimatainen made it 4-3, and with both sides reduced to five players, Alan Green equalised just before the end of the second period.

There was a tense atmosphere early in the final session, before Stars went ahead for the first time as Jake Florey fired home, from assists by Matt Jordan and Green.

The result was settled when Green netted his second to make it 6-4.

Despite numerous penalties for both sides in the final ten minutes, Stars held on for victory.