EVAN Mackintosh hit a hat-trick as Oxford City Stars increased their hopes of survival in English National League South Division 1 with a 7-4 home win over Bracknell Hornets.

Oxford fell behind in the third minute to a Joshua Smith strike.

But they were soon level through Joe Oliver’s cracking shot when Stars held a two-man advantage due to the visitors’ indiscretions.

And Oxford ended the first period 2-1 ahead after Josh Oliver netted.

  • Latest Sport news

Stars’ Sam Arnold was then controversially penalised for delaying the game after he made a hand pass, and Jordan Gregory scored for Hornets on the powerplay.

Bracknell’s Cameron Barker was then excluded for launching a tirade of abuse.

But Oxford failed to make the powerplay count, and the visitors took a 3-2 lead when Peter Jasik’s shot through a crowd of players beat James Skaife.

Oxford hit back, though, with Mackintosh and James Pentecost tapping home rebounds to make it 4-3 to Stars.

Mackintosh scored his second two minutes into the third period, but Joshua Martin hit back to make it 5-4.

Mackintosh completed his hat-trick by scoring from distance, and Oxford sealed victory with Joe Edwards scoring one of the best goals seen at Oxpens Road in many a year.

  • OXFORD City Stars have teamed up with Oxford Saints’ American Football team to form a partnership aimed at lifting both clubs to greater heights.

Stars and Saints plan to help each other out.

Ian Dibley, Stars’ supporters liaison officer, said: “This is not just on the sporting fields, but through club administrators we believe that the links we form can be mutually beneficial by identifying good working practices and sharing them.”