Oxford City Stars suffered double disappointment as they crashed to a brace of defeats against Bracknell Hornets in Division 1 South.

Stars slipped to a 5-3 defeat at Bracknell on Saturday, before crashing to a 9-3 loss in the return game at Oxford Ice Rink a day later.

In the first game, Stars survived one powerplay, but were unable to prevent Hornets’ Ben Duggan scoring during their next man-advantage.

Oxford responded early in the second period through Alan Green.

Five minutes later, the Hornets led again through Alan Lack, only for Green to level again.

But Dominic Hopkins and Alex Barker made it 4-2 to Bracknell.

Joe Boot pulled one back for Oxford in the third period.

With time running out, Barker got his second to seal it.

The opening was punctuated by a confrontation between Lucas and Bracknell’s Bradley Watchorn, both of whom were sin-binned for four minutes.

Dominic Hopkins scored in Bracknell’s next powerplay, before Barker took advantage of two more powerplays to make it 3-0.

Oxford, with Yousiff Abu Saada in the penalty box within a minute of the second period, fell further behind when Hopkins netted.

Barker made it 5-0 before Darren Elliott cut the deficit only for Juraj Rusic to have his shoulder dislocated by Hopkins, who was ejected.

In the ensuing fracas, several penalties were handed out, with Bracknell’s Ben Johnson ejected.

But Stars were unable to take advantage of the powerplay, and Blair Dubyk scored twice to make it 7-1.

It got worse for Stars when Lack extended Hornets lead.

Although Green clawed one back for City seconds later, James Galazzi made it 9-2.

Ken Forshee netted City’s third, but by then it was too late.