Raiders player-coach Danny Marshall (right) led his side with seven points against Oxford

Romford Raiders 18 Oxford 1

Romford Raiders snapped their three-game losing streak with an avalanche of goals at Rom Valley Way last night.

Beaten by Streatham, Isle of Wight and Bracknell in their last three National League matches, the defending champions romped to a convincing cup win over Division Two side Oxford.

And they will now look to get their title bid back on track in a crunch derby clash at Chelmsford tonight (6.30pm).

Player-coach Danny Marshall put his side ahead after only 42 seconds against the Stars.

And Frankie Harvey doubled their advantage 10 seconds later, before AJ Smith and JJ McGrath also beat Ricky Young to make it 4-0 with barely two and a half minutes played.

Oxford held out until the 13th minute, when Marshall netted his second.

But Grant Taylor then found a way past Young and Juraj Huska struck a late brace to make it 8-0 at the first break.

Romford goalie Michael Gray was a spectator in the opening frame, as Oxford failed to register a single shot on goal.

He was called upon to make three saves in the middle session, as Romford beat Young four more times from another 16 shots thanks to goals from Billy Phillips, Matt Turner, Marshall and Andrius Kaminskas.

Marshall’s fourth goal of the night made it 13-0 in the first minute of the final stanza, but Sam Broughton replied 22 seconds later to end Gray’s shutout hopes.

Defenceman David Oliver restored the 13-goal cushion with a shorthanded effort, with Jason Buckman hitting the target for a second successive match while Kaminskas served a slashing minor.

Marshall grabbed his fifth to make it 16-1 with five minutes remaining and after Tom Davis struck on a powerplay, McGrath completed the rout with 25 seconds left on the clock.

The emphatic victory left Romford, who still have to face Oxford’s Division Two rivals Peterborough home and away, two points behind group leaders Invicta, who visit Rom Valley Way for a decider on March 9.

But Marshall’s men have bigger things to worry about this evening.

Scorers, Raiders: Danny Marshall 5+2 Juraj Huska* 2+4 JJ McGrath 2+1 AJ Smith 1+4 Matt Turner 1+3 Frankie Harvey 1+2 Billy Phillips 1+2 Andrius Kaminskas* 1+2 Grant Taylor 1+1 Jason Buckman 1+1 Tom Davis 1+1 David Oliver 1 Shaun Yardley 0+2 Julian Smith 0+1.

Stars: Sam Broughton 1 James Clarke 0+1 Joe Oliver 0+1.