Player-coach Darren Elliott was excluded in controversial fashion as Oxford City Stars slipped to a 9-6 defeat away to London Raiders in English National League South Division 1.

Elliott’s dismissal was the big talking point of a tough weekend for Stars, which also saw them lose 7-3 to Streatham Redskins at Oxford Ice Rink 24 hours later.

He was ejected in a bizarre incident with 40 seconds of the second period left as Stars trailed 7-3.

Elliott was battling for the puckwhen referee Roman Szucs called a kicking penalty.

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Stars had fallen behind after seven minutes of a penalty-fuelled game to a strike from Jakub Klima.

Raiders then broke away to add a second through Tom Davis.

Stars’ plight worsened as Vaclav Drabek and Danny Marshall added further goals for London.

But straight from the face-off, Josh Oliver open Oxford’s account.

However, the hosts had the last say in the period when Marshall scored from distance.

Tom Davis made it 6-1 to the hosts three minutes into the second period, but Joe Edwards pulled one back and James Pentecost reduced the deficit further on yet another powerplay.

With Oxford receiving two minors penalties, Drabek netted, before Elliott’s exclusion.

With Stars’ player-coach out, Adam Smith made it 8-3 a minute into the third period.

But Oxford rallied with Edwards scoring on the powerplay.

Klima hit back to make it 9-4, before Edwards completed his hat-trick and Josh Oliver grabbed his second.

Stars were depleted for their clash with Streatham.

In addition to the suspended Elliott, Nick Oliver, James Clarke and Newton were either unavailable or injured.

Oxford fell behind to a Brandon Miles strike in the third minute, but Josh Florey equalised with a powerplay goal.

Callum Best restored Redskins’ lead and Joe Allen, on the powerplay, made it 3-1 at the end of the first period.

Chaos ensued after the restart when Jake Florey was adjudged to have held an opponent, which sparked a mass brawl, with more than half-an-hour of penalties handed out as Oxford’s Dax Hedges took down Miles.

After peace was restored, Redskins scored twice in 40 seconds through Steven Fisher and Jack Tarczycki to make it 5-1, before Edwards pulled one back on the powerplay.

Adam Wood’s powerplay goal made it 6-2 in the third period.

Pentecost reduced the deficit with Stars enjoying a powerplay, but their fate was sealed by Michal Oravec’s strike.

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