BRACKNELL, UK – Bracknell Hornets secured their first ever ENL South Play-Off title, as they overcame the Wightlink Raiders over two legs at the weekend. Despite going down 3-2 at home on Sunday, the Hornets took the title on an aggregate score of 6-4 after their resounding 4-1 victory on the island the night before.
The Hornets achievement was made all the more remarkable owing to their Head Coach Gareth Cox missing both games due to the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis, which left him stranded in Tenerife and unable to fly back to the UK.
Champions (Photo Lewis Cleveland)
Bracknell finished third in the league and managed to overcome their Play-Off group of Oxford City Stars and Invicta Dynamos to reach the final. Although the Dynamos were favourites prior to the start of the Play-Offs, Prohockeynews.com did predict the Hornets to do well in a preview piece on 25 March 2010. The piece stated: “The Hornets are big and strong with a good mix of youth and experience and Gareth Cox’s side can go all the way if they hit form and steer clear of injuries”
One prediction that most pundits got wrong this weekend was that home advantage would be key to both sides, and in particular a Wightlink Raiders side whose small ice surface often poses problems for visiting teams.
Ben Duggan fires winner (Photo Lewis Cleveland)
The game on Saturday on the island was played in front of a bumper crowd hoping for a Raiders win. Sadly for the vociferous home support, the Raiders went down 4-1 in an incident packed game. Craig Tribe gave the Hornets a two goal lead however his second was shrouded in controversy. Most sources (including his own team mates) admit that he was offside by quite some distance, and many Wightlink fans also believe the puck actually came back off the cross bar rather than the back of the goal as was awarded.
Nonetheless, the Raiders night took an even more miserable turn when energetic forward Andy Robinson was ejected for drawing blood after a clumsy hit on Hornets Graham Bellamy that saw the Hornet sustain a gash to his face. Further Hornets goals from Blair Dubyk and Matt Ovenden, sandwiched either side of a Raiders consolation effort from Damon Larter gave the Hornets a surprise lead ahead of the return leg. The Raiders also had a scare over defence man Kevin Tanner, who collapsed in a pool of his own blood after an unreported incident during the game. Thankfully he was taken to a hospital and successfully glued back together after the game.
Cornish scores in Bracknell (Photo Lewis Cleveland)
With such a strong lead from the first leg, Bracknell were expected to easily finish the job on their home ice. Another big crowd gathered at the Hive and were treated to good game of hockey with a bit of added tension. All those in attendance who have kept an eye on Wightlink’s play-off campaign so far, should not have been surprised to see the Raiders come out fighting.
Stewart Tait and Damon Larter fired the Raiders into a two nil lead to send Hornets hearts fluttering, but Mark Galazzi calmed nerves with a goal for the home side. Wightlink player-coach Jeremy Cornish made it 3-1 to put the Raiders one goal away from levelling the tie; however Ben Duggan scored towards the end of the second period to restore the Hornets two goal cushion and effectively win the title.
Full credit must go to both teams for some excellent performances in the play-offs this year. Wightlink have been a team revived from their regular season campaign and with Jeremy Cornish already recruiting hard for next season’s campaign, the Raiders fans must be already looking forward to next year’s fixtures.
Wride celebrates (Photo Lewis Cleveland)
Bracknell may have a change at the top with coach Gareth Cox rumoured to be joining the EPL Bees’ side, however the newly crowned play-off champions will be confident of emulating this years achievements. If it had not been for a shaky start to their league campaign they could well have achieved a league and play-off double.
Prohockeynews.com would like to congratulate Bracknell Hornets on a fantastic achievement. We now wait with baited breath to see if a grand play-off final can be arranged with the winners of the Northern play-off final between Whitley Warriors and Nottingham Lions.
Bracknell Hornets ENL South Play-Off Champions 2009/10
Wride (N/M), Petch (N/M), Biart (N/M), Wheeler, Watchorn, Turner, Tribe, Templeman, Rounding, Plenty, Parker, Ovenden, McCoy, Lack, Johnson, Hopkins, M Galazzi, J Galazzi, Fisher, Falsetta, Duggan, Dubyk, Carroll, Bellamy, Barker, Barclay, Avery.
Coach: Gareth Cox
Manager: Larry Lee
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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