Oxford City Stars maintained their play-off bid with a 3-3 draw at Milton Keynes Thunder in English National League South Division 1.

Stars were missing several players, but started well, scoring first with a short-handed strike from Dean Francis, who latched onto a mistake by keeper Mark Woolf.

Two late goals saw Thunder lead at the interval.

Stars keeper James Skaife kept his team in the game with a string of fine saves in the second period.

This spurred Stars on to score two quick goals themselves through Darren Elliott and Francis, putting them 3-2 up after 37 minutes.

The lead lasted only a few minutes as Stars fell apart and defenceman Andy Cox cough-ed the puck up directly to an Milton Keynes attacker in front of an open goal.

Both teams had chances to win the game in a goalless third period.