OXFORD Saints’ hopes of making the Central Division 1 play-offs suffered a critical blow when they lost 40-21 away to Solent Thrashers in the Southern Conference.

With some key players missing, Saints went down to a team they had soundly beaten earlier in the season.

In order to reclaim the second play-off spot, Saints will need to win at home to Ouse Valley Eagles in their last game on Sunday, and hope that South Wales Warriors pull off their first victory of the season against Solent.

Saints struck first against Thrashers after second-year quarterback Kyle Swann took them close to the home line.

Antonios Athanasiou punched in the ball from one yard out for the score and Sam Fielden kicked the extra point.

Solent responded to take a 20-7 half-time lead, when quarterback Bradley Sawyers twice found Dayle Greenfield for touchdowns, while Tom Borsay ran in another, Samuel Scott adding one two-point conversion.

In the third quarter, Thrashers extended their lead to 26-7 with another Borsay score.

Saints rallied at the start of the fourth quarter, with Richard Bloomer going over for a six-yard touchdown and Tony Glover running in for two extra points.

However, the visitors’ defence allowed Adam Bowley to score a 28-yard touchdown to make it 32-15.

Oxford’s final score came from Glover, who raced through from seven yards, but Fielden’s kick was blocked.

Sawyers had the final say when setting up Greenfield for a 58-yard score, with Scott adding the two points.