JOE Edwards hit a superb hat-trick as Oxford City Stars posted a 5-3 home win over Bristol Pitbulls in English National League Division 2 South.

The victory saw Oxford move up two places to sixth.

Stars got off to the perfect start with Joe Oliver setting up Sam Broughton to shoot into the top left corner after just 67 seconds.

Bristol levelled in the sixth minute when Sam Feeney netted at the far post with a well-placed shot.

But Oxford held the upper hand for the rest of the period and added two more goals.

Darren Elliott set up Edwards with a bullet pass to tap home the puck at the far post right at the end of a powerplay.

And Edwards struck again, with Oliver this time providing the assist.

There were a sequence of penalties with both sides being called for infringements, including Bristol’s Sam Feeney for diving.

Pitbulls’ Richie Hargreaves picked up a penalty towards the end of the period, which carried over into the start of the second.

He made an instant impact on his return, winning the puck before forcing a rebound, which shot back to Matt Thornhill, who fired home from distance to make it 3-2.

Jack Clarkson was then penalised for Bristol, and Oxford struck again on the powerplay with Elliott restoring their two-goal cushion.

Edwards completed his hat-trick shortly after with a wonderful piece of skill, assisted by Elliott.

Bristol then overturned the puck and Jack Clarkson scored just 49 seconds from the end of the period to make it 5-3.

Defences dominated the third period with no further addition to the scoreline.

Both sides started to pick up penalties, with two from each side in just over two minutes.

But in the end Stars ran out the clock to secure a deserved victory.