OXFORD City Stars head coach Kenny Redmond praised minder Milan Ronai and his defence following their 7-0 English National League victory at home to Peterborough Phantoms.

It was the first this season that Stars had not conceded, and the result stretched their lead at the top of the South Division 2 to five points.

Redmond, said: “It was very satisfying to get a shut-out against a very strong side.

“Great credit should go to Milan. He made some tremendous saves in the first period which gave us the platform to go on and win the game.

“I felt we didn’t work hard enough in the first period and we put that right in the second and won that 4-0, which earned us the game overall.

“From then on, we didn’t stop working hard and I was pleased we kept our on foot on the gas to earn the win and the shutout.

“Players were throwing themselves in the front of the puck in the last few minutes to keep the clean sheet.

“The fans were excellent again and really got behind the team.”

The first period was scoreless, with Ronai making an excellent save from Conor Pollard.

At the other end, one of Conor Redmond’s efforts led to Phantoms’ keeper Daniel Lane pulling the net off its moorings.

The Stars came out firing on all cylinders in the second period, outshooting their rivals 16-6, and scoring four goals, with doubles from Joe Edwards and Dom Hopkins.

The third period was a little more even in terms of shots, but Stars managed to add further goals from Jake Florey, Matthew Lawday and Dax Hedges.

The Phantoms, suffering their second successive shut-out, took out their frustrations, which led to fighting between both teams.

Penalties for roughing were incurred by Stars’ Jason Ikin and Hedges, and Peterborough’s Jake Samal.