OXFORD City Stars’ 5-2 win at home to Haringey Greyhounds in Division 1 South was overshadowed by a series of fights in the closing stages.

Players from both sides were involved in running battles across the ice after the referee called Stars’ Dean Francis and Haringey’s Dave Richards to the penalty box.

Richards was intent on challenging Francis on their way to the box, and despite the efforts of the officials, he refused to follow instructions.

Francis, who was reluctant to back down, was eventually persuaded by the officials to proceed to the box.

But Richards stayed put and then got involved with Oxford defenceman Paul Gore.

This sparked a number of confrontations across the ice, including one in which Stars’ Joe Edwards pulled the jersey off an opponent and was given a ten-minute penalty for tossing it back into the Greyhounds bench area.

Stars were leading 4-2 at the time of the flare-up, and when play finally resumed Juraj Rusic added their fifth goal.

Oxford had started brightly, but were unable to beat Haringey netminder Laura Saunders as the first period ended goalless.

Richard Wojciak broke the deadlock in the second period when he slapped a shot past Saunders.

Rusic then finished off a power-play move to double Stars’ advantage.

But their joy was short-lived as Haringey broke out of defence and Scott Beeson drilled the puck past Stars netminder James Scaife.

Greyhounds got back on level terms in the third period through Michael Ranby.

Lee Featherstone fired Stars back in front, and within a minute Joe Boot netted on a delayed penalty call to give Oxford some breathing space, before the match came to its stormy conclusion.