Oxford City Stars’ play-off challenge lies in tatters after a third-period collapse saw them crash to an 8-3 defeat against Bracknell Hornets in their quarter-final, first leg at Oxpens Road.

Now Stars face a massive task to turn the tie round in the second leg at Bracknell on Saturday.

The fiercely-contested first leg will be remembered for the refereeing, but as is the norm both camps disagreed on the performance. Oxford felt it was substandard, while Bracknell had no complaints.

Hornets opened the scoring on a powerplay when Alex Barker beat James Skaife at his near post with Lee Featherstone off the ice for holding.

But Oxford were soon level when Joe Edwards capitalised on a mix-up in the Hornets defence after being put in by Nick Oliver.

However, Stars fell behind before the end of the first period as Craig Tribe restored Bracknell’s lead.

Oxford levelled in the second period with Alan Armour and Grant Bailey forcing Adam Marashi into a series of saves, before setting up Richard Wojciak to fire into an empty net with the keeper down.

Barker put Hornets in front once more on the powerplay as Oxford ended the period 3-2 down.

Stars equalised for a third time in the final period when Bracknell’s Chris Wiggins was sitting out a two-minute penalty.

Oxford made full use of the powerplay with Richie Hargreaves beating Marashi with a wrist shot.

But then a mistake by Wojciak allowed James Galazzi to break away and beat Skaife.

Things went from bad to worse for the Stars as from the restart, Galazzi struck again to make it 5-3.

Stars then seemed to push the self-destruct button as they lost their discipline.

With Nick Eden in the pen-alty box, the Hornets stormed forward and Tom Avery dispatched a wrist shot.

Stars were now in disarray, and Bracknell made them pay with two further goals.

Wojciak was banished to the penalty box for slashing and Hornets made the extra man count when Barker completed his hat-trick.

With Bracknell’s celebrations hardly over, they added to Stars’ misery with Chris Wiggins beating a defender before lifting the puck over Skaife and into the net.