New Oxford City Stars coach Richie Hargreaves got his tenure off to a perfect star as his side propelled themselves to the top of Division 1 South.

Stars picked up a creditable draw away to Cardiff Devils, with a sharp tactical decision from Hargreaves earning the equaliser just three seconds from time.

They then followed this up 24 hours laterwith a brilliant 3-1 win over previous leaders Bracknell Hornets on their own rink.

Against Cardiff, Stars were a goal down inside a minute after a scramble saw the puck belted home.

But Stars were soon level after Dean Francis’s long-range effort evaded the Devils’ keeper.

The second period saw Devils regain the lead, only for Francis to hit back again as he netted his second.

With the scores level going into the final period, Cardiff again went in front on a powerplay as Oxford lost their way.

Grant Bailey struck back to make it 3-3, but with nine minutes left, the home side again went ahead.

Hargreaves took the gamble of removing netminder James Skaife, and the tactic paid off perfectly as Nick Oliver netted in the dying seconds to earn a draw.

Stars went top of the table after a brilliant performance against Bracknell at Oxpens Road.

The first period was goalless, despite Stars dominating.

And against the run of play, Bracknell went in front from a long-range shot near the end of the second period.

But this spurred Oxford on, and they were soon level as Nick Oliver scored for the third game in a row.

Stars’ Bailey and Bracknell import Matt Ovenden then squared up, the pair dropping their gloves in a big punch-up after Ovenden had made a late check from behind on Oliver.

The first ten minutes of the final period was end-to-end, Bracknell going close on a couple of occasions.

But Stars went in front on a powerplay when Lee Feather-stone fired home an accurate wrist shot.

Hornets were not about to relinquish their position at the top lightly, and had it not been for a number of saves from Skaife, they would have levelled in the third period.

Bracknell pulled their netminder off for an extra outfield man, but Stars scored their third on the counter attack as Andy Shurmer unleashed a thunderbolt from the halfway line with 40 seconds left to secure a memorable victory.

The action wasn’t quite over. As celebrations got going, Bracknell’s James Galazzi spa-rked off the second fight, when he squared up to Shurmer, who came out on top in the fisticuffs that followed!

But it could not take the gloss of Oxford’s superb display, which puts them a point clear at the top.