Oxford City Stars returned to the top of the English National Hockey League south play-offs with a 9-4 win over league winners Basingstoke on Sunday.

Stars started poorly by giving Basingstoke two soft goals in the first five minutes before waking up.

A sudden rush of penalties after these two setbacks saw the home side fighting to stay in the match as they played out four minutes short-handed, half of that time with a two-man disadvantage.

But after surviving the onslaught, Oxford pulled back in the 12th minute with a fine goal from Derek Flint, after good work from Glen West, and the period ended with Basingstoke leading 2-1.

Early in the second period, Basingstoke extended their lead to 3-1 but that was to conclude their scoring for the next half hour as Oxford played some fine hockey and were dominant for long spells.

Three of their goals were scored short-handed, the first of these coming when Glen West was set up by Flint in the 24th minute.

They drew level through a goal by Chris West after a move involving Andy Cox and Bill Morra, and then Stars went ahead for the first time when Morra set up Darren Elliott for the first of his three goals.

In the third period it wasn't long before James Cameron jnr scored Oxford's fifth goal from a pass by Cox, and a few minutes later, Elliott netted the sixth, with assistance from Glen West.

Elliott finished Oxford's scoring with his third goal, again set up by Morra, in the 56th minute before Basingstoke scored a late consolation in the last two minutes.

Matt Cameron picked up the Oxford player of the match award after saving 43 of 47 on target shots by the Buffalo.

Oxford travel to Basingstoke on Wednesday where another win almost certainly seal their place in the national semi-finals.

Scorers: Darren Elliott 3+0, Bill Morra 0+3, Chris West 1+1, Glen West 1+1, Derek Flint 1+1, Andy Cox 0+2, James Cameron jnr 1+0.

*Telford's David Fielder has had his coaching licence suspended by the English Ice Hockey Association following incidents at last week's game against the Stars. Fielder is appealing against the decision.