Paul Crockett scored the late winner as Oxford City Stars kept up their 100 per cent record in the competition with a 4-3 win over Peterborough Islanders.

But Stars made it difficult for themselves having to fight back from three goals down to secure victory.

Oxford started in dominant form, but just could not score and it was Peterborough who took the lead early in the first period when Ross Mackintosh scored on virtually their first foray into the Oxford end.

The Islanders put Stars under pressure for the next few minutes, before Oxford started pressing forward, only to be thwarted by poor finishing and fine netminding by Daniel Jennings.

Peterborough extended their lead in the 14th minute through Mackintosh again, when he was set up by a loose defensive pass that saw the session end with Stars trailing 2-0.

In the second period, Stars continued to press forward, but it was beginning to look like one of those days and it came as no surprise when, just after Oxford had missed a penalty shot, Peterborough broke out in the last minute of the session for Mackintosh to complete his hat-trick.

Oxford fought back when Gary Slevin slotted the puck into the bottom corner a few minutes into the third period, and a couple of minutes later he netted again with a fine solo effort after skating the length of the rink.

Oxford then had a goal disallowed when the referee whistled to stop play, just before the puck squirmed over the line.

But by now the Stars weren't to be denied and Derek Flint fired powerfully home from a Scott Gough pass on 49 minutes.

Oxford missed numerous chances, before Crockett grabbed the winner five minutes from time.

Oxford scorers: G Slevin 2+0, P Crockett 1+0, D Flint 1+0, S Gough 0+1, A Green 0+1, Bn Lay 0+1, D Sturgeon 0+1.