Oxford City Stars rediscovered the winning formula with an 8-3 victory over Chelmsford Chieftains at the Oxpens Road Rink in their last English National Cup qualifier.

The win gives Oxford a great chance of reaching the semi-finals, where they would face a northern team.

Pete Taylor and Jeff Sinnott scored their first goals of the season to set Oxford on the way, before Derek Flint added a third to put them 3-0 ahead at the first break.

Late in the period, Stars' Andy Cox suffered a dislocated shoulder after he was hooked down and fell heavily, while Chelmsford also lost a player with a suspected broken collar-bone during the session.

The second period began with a powerplay goal for Chelmsford from their top scorer Richard Whiting, before Oxford restored their three-goal cushion with a neat finish from Ben Lay.

The lead was extended further when Taylor doubled his tally, but Chelmsford's Tom Long scored straight after a face off to make it 5-2.

James Cameron hit No 6 for Stars in the third period, and Flint struck again, with another powerplay goal, to make the result safe.

Lay scored his second of the match for Stars, but Chelmsford had the last word when Jon Beckett netted on a powerplay.

Oxford City Stars' scorers: B Lay 2+2, P Taylor 2+1, D Flint 2+0, J Cameron 1+1, J Roberts 0+2, S Ferry 0+2, J Sinnott 1+0, K Abbott 0+1, A Eberhardt 0+1.

OTHER RESULTS

Under 10 Challenge: Invicta 3, Oxford/Guildford 9.

English Under 12 League South: Invicta (Gillingham) 2, Oxford City 6 (R Penhale 5+1, H Freedman 1+1, T Loake 0+1).