Oxford City Stars were left with mixed emotions after battling back from 4-0 down, only to lose 5-4 at high-flying Chelmsford Chieftains in Division 1 South of the English National League.

An awful first seven minutes saw the home side race into a commanding lead, before an impressive fightback saw Stars draw level at 4-4.

But it was short-lived joy as Chelmsford snatched the winner two minutes from time.

Chelmsford went in front inside two minutes as Danny Hammond slotted home, and moments later, Nathaneal Williams made it 2-0 with an unassisted effort.

It got even worse for Stars as Darren Brown scored the third goal, and in the seventh minute, Danny Hammond added his second and Chelmsford’s fourth, latching on to a great pass from Blaho Novak.

At 4-0 down, Stars began to regain some composure, and they were rewarded when Ken Forshee reduced the arrears from a Dean Francis assist.

Two minutes later, Forshee returned the favour, assisting Francis to score.

Although that completed the scoring, there was more drama when Joe Edwards took a solid check, which left him lying on the ice with a bleeding nose.

Already missing Joe Boot (swine flu) and Andy Cox (shoulder), and having conceded four goals in the first period, Edwards’s absence heaped more pressure on the team, who had called up youngster Josh Oliver for his Stars’ debut.

But the fightback which started in the first period had quietened the home crowd.

The second period was a tight contest, with good scoring chances at both ends.

But it was Oxford who bagged the only goal to reduce the arrears still further, Oliver netting after a goalmouth scramble.

A rasping Yousif Abu Saada shot from the blue line flew past the keeper and rebounded off the bar.

Oxford’s resurgence continued as Forshee fired home an equaliser midway through the third period.

But as Stars pressed for an unlikely winner, the home side hit them with a sucker punch as Jerry Pavlus fired the puck into the roof of the net to secure victory.