OXFORD City Stars’ play-off hopes suffered a setback with an 8-1 defeat at the hands of leaders Wightlink Raid-ers in South Division 1.
Having lost 5-1 to the table-toppers a week earlier, Stars made the trip south determined to gain revenge.
But a poor first period, which saw them trail 4-0, set the tone for a disappointing defeat.
Jason Gorrie, Dom Hopkins, Robbie Brown and Nathan Taylor put the hosts into a commanding lead.
Oxford regrouped and loo-ked set to share the spoils in the second period, only for Gorrie to beat Oxford netminder Jamie Thompson late on to make it 5-0.
The final period started well for Oxford when Gareth Endicott fired home to give them a tiny glimmer of hope.
But less than a minute later, Hopkins re-established the five-goal advantage.
Brown and Jeremy Cornish went on to rub salt into the Oxford wounds, scoring twice more to secure an 8-1 victory.
OXFORD’S second string drew 3-3 with Chelmsford Warriors in South Division 2.
Despite leading 3-1, thanks to goals from Jacob Smith (2) and Joe Oliver, Stars were unable to hang onto their lead, and the visitors earned a share of the spoils.
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