HARINGEY Greyhounds were rocked by two late goals as Oxford City Stars came from behind to win at Alexandra Palace on Sunday. Scott Cannam put the Hounds in front in the second period with a neat breakaway goal, but 12 minutes from time the visitors equalised

HARINGEY Greyhounds were rocked by two late goals as Oxford City Stars came from behind to win at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

Scott Cannam put the Hounds in front in the second period with a neat breakaway goal, but 12 minutes from time the visitors equalised.

The winner came in the closing minutes, sparking a frantic finale in which the Hounds pulled their goalie and went for all-out attack, but to no avail.

"It's a tough road now," said Hounds' Jan Bestic of his team's chances of making the English League play-offs.

"We could have been in a much more comfortable position had we won. But now all the teams below us have pulled back two points.

"We've got four games left and I wouldn't like to say how many we'll need to win - four really - and the most we can afford to drop is one."

The Hounds and Oxford shared an equal number of shots on Sunday (30 each), though it was Oxford's equaliser that was most memorable.

One of their players took the puck wide and flicked a quick wrist-shot into the net, to the surprise of everyone on the ice.

"We had all the defensive angles covered," said Bestic. "I don't know how he got his shot off. Our keeper Wridey said it was so fast he didn't stand a chance."

After falling 2-1 down, the Hounds poured on the pressure. Bestic sent a raking backhand shot from distance after spotting a gap, but the opposition's keeper somehow dived across and flicked the ball away with his pad. And subsequent rebounds were also denied to keep the Hounds out.

The Hounds now face three consecutive away games, starting with Peterborough tomorrow.