SENSATIONAL Oxford City Stars inflicted a first defeat of the season on English National League South Division 1 leaders Chelmsford Chieftains at Oxpens.

The Essex side had won their first eight matches, including a 6-1 victory over Stars the previous weekend, but found themselves on the end of a 6-4 defeat thanks to a superb display from the hosts.

Stars made the perfect start, storming to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period.

They were in front inside the opening minute through Alan Green, before Josh Oliver and Shane Moore combined to set up Josh Florey.

Stars then took advantage of a powerplay, with import Boris Ruzicka netting.

The visitors got on the board in the second period, Darren Brown finally beating netminder Connor Ranby after 25 minutes.

Stars quickly bounced back and were rewarded for some of their best hockey of the season when Green notched his second of the match.

Josh Oliver extended the lead early in the third period, but the visitors finally stepped up a gear, with Cameron Bartlett scoring on the rebound.

A penalty on Dax Hedges allowed them another opportunity and Bartlett further reduced the arrears to 5-3.

Chieftains withdrew their netminder as they threw everyone forward in the closing stages, allowing Ben Ealey-Newman a simple tap into the empty net to secure victory.

Bartlett netted again for Chelmsford late on, but it was too late to deny Stars an exceptional victory.

Their exertions told the next day, when a disastrous opening period saw them crash to a 5-3 defeat at Streatham Redskins.

With the visitors struggling with availability and injury, they were 4-0 down in the first frame.

Stars fought back admirably, reducing the deficit in the second period through EaleyNewman.

Ondrej Pekarik and Josh Florey then struck early in the third period to get within one goal of their hosts.

Sensing a comeback, Stars poured forward.

But despite a seven-minute powerplay where Andy Cox struck the post, they were unable to take advantage, with Kamil Kinkor finally putting the match beyond them in the dying moments.