OXFORD City Stars were given a severe test before beating visiting Peterborough Phantoms 6-4 to maintain their winning start to the season.

Lee Richardson (2), Dax Hedges (2), Matt Lawday and Darren Elliott were on the scoresheet at Oxpens.

Head coach Kenny Redmond praised the character of his side as they came from behind in the final period to make it three straight wins in English National League Division 2 South.

Redmond said: “We had a few players out injured and a few carrying knocks, but it is a squad game and we did enough to win.

“It was a bit scrappy, but the boys dug deep in the third period to put the game beyond Peterborough’s reach.

“It was a real test of our character and the boys demonstrated again that they will give their all for the club.”

The Phantoms have had a mixed start to the season, but Oxford expected a tough night, and that is exactly what they got.

It was the hosts, who came more quickly out of the blocks.

Within seven minutes, they were 2-0 ahead, thanks to super strikes from Richardson and Lawday.

Peterborough hit back after nine minutes when Jack Sansby found the net, before Nicholas Alley levelled the scores two minutes before the first interval.

The second period followed a similar pattern.

Stars, with new import Michal Oravec a pivotal figure, regained the lead when Hedges scored on the powerplay.

Yet again, the short-handed Phantoms drew level towards the end of the period when Alley scored his second of the night.

Stars went 4-3 behind in the first two minutes of the final period when Clint Herring scored.

However, that was the last thing the visiting supporters had to cheer.

Less than 30 seconds later, Richardson scored his second to equalise.

And within a minute, Hedges completed his brace to put the Stars 5-4 ahead.

Elliott completed the scoring five minutes from the end to take City second in the table ahead of their eagerly-awaited derby at home to Swindon Wildcats on Sunday (6.15pm).