Oxford City Stars stayed in the hunt for an English National League South Division 1 play-off place with an 8-4 home win over Swindon Wildcats before slipping to a 6-3 defeat at Chelmsford Chieftains.

Gareth Endicott settled Oxford’s nerves against bottom club Swindon by firing past Kevin McGurk in the sixth minute.

But Swindon were soon level when Stephen Whitfield scored a powerplay goal.

The busy Andy Cox restored Stars’ lead, before defenceman Nick Eden shot the puck into the back of the Swindon net for a rare goal.

Oxford, with Richard Wojciak shining again, stretched their lead in the second period with two powerplay goals.

Endicott scored his second, and then with McGurk having been drawn out of position, he slotted home an excellent cross-ice pass into the empty net to complete his hat-trick.

The only other notable action in the period saw Oxford’s Alan Green and Swindon’s Luke Merrick’s desire to have a fight snuffed out by a linesman.

Alisdair Barrow and ex-Stars man Shannon Taylor reduced the deficit in the final period, before Green slotted home to make it 6-3.

Merrick, who had been spoiling for a fight, had his wish granted when Mike Whillock dropped his gloves and emphatically dispatched the ex-Bristol player to the ice.

Jamie Newton netted to keep Swindon’s hopes alive, but Oxford coach Ken Forshee then scored twice to clinch victory.

Oxford lined up against high-flying Chelmsford the next day without Grant Bailey, who left the Swindon game early, and captain Darren Elliott.

Matt Turner fired Chieftains ahead midway through the first period at the clash at the Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre, but Forshee equalised with a powerplay goal.

Tom Long restored Chelmsford’s lead before the end of the period.

Stars again took advantage of the powerplay to draw level when Forshee provided the assist for Endicott to score.

And Oxford ended the second period 3-2 in front after Forshee forced the puck home.

During the period, Stars netminder and man-of-the-match Jamie Thompson was invol-ved in an accidental collision with a Chieftains forward and was laid on the ice.

He received treatment from Chelmsford’s physio and despite looking a little uncomfortable, played on.

Oxford seemed to tire in the final period, and Chieftains took advantage with youngsters Blaho Novak and Danny Hammond grabbing a brace apiece to take victory.

With other results going their way, Stars remain in seventh place, which keeps them on course for an end-of-season play-off spot.