ENL South Round-up week 23

LONDON, UK – Two cups were lifted this week as silverware dazzled the ENL South. Add in a historic shutout, a sexy bruise and a few conspiracy theories and it was an eventful week across the league.
 
There is no rest for the wicked, or so they say, so Romford Raiders and Chelmsford Chieftains faced off on Thursday night for the second leg of the Essex Cup final.

 
After losing out to the Raiders in the South East Cup earlier in the season, Chelmsford Coach Gary Clarke was determined to get his hands on some silverware, especially as his side held a 5-2 lead from the first leg.
 
In a close encounter the Raiders managed to win 1-0 on the night however it was not enough to stop Clarke and his men lifting their first trophy of the season and the former MK sniper’s first silverware as a coach.
 
JJ McGrath got Romford’s goal and Glen Jackson became the first Raiders goalie to shut out the Chieftains in the 110 games between the two teams.
 
Billy Phillips was ejected for a tripping call that left Clarke needing stitches, but by all accounts it was a case of mistaken identity with the real offender rumoured to be Shaun Wallis who had checked Clarke at the same time.
 
To compound Phillips misery the penalty takes him to the point’s level required for a 4 match suspension so it remains to be seen whether an appeal is made by the Rom Valley Way outfit.
 
For some of the Chelmsford boys this was the first trophy they had laid their hands on in a long time, with the likes of Alan Green and Darren Elliott from Oxford vindicating their decision to travel the long miles each week, and former Lee Valley, Haringey and Streatham forward Michael Ranby finally touching some silverware other than on the family mantle-piece.
 
Celebrations spread within the visitors’ locker room after the game however with a late face off no one could get too carried away. The official trophy presentation was left until Sunday, after the game against Streatham.
 
Great Britain Under 18’s squad was announced with Slough’s Sam Godfrey the only ENL South player to make the cut, unless you include former Oxford Stars goalie Patrick Russell.
 
Bracknell’s Ryan Webb and Romford’s JJ Pitchley did make the reserve list; however the main talking point of the team selection focussed on the inclusion of London rocker’s Rod Stewart’s son Liam in the squad.
 
Rumours of simultaneous explosions at Swindon and Oxford ice rinks had conspiracy theorists speculating on all kinds of things midweek, ranging from theories of a protest by disgruntled Oxford City Stars fans to an even less credible rumour that former Wildcats’ and Stars’ winger Scott Gough had been lighting his farts again near Calor gas canisters.
 
In the end it turned out that a major power failure was the issue but thankfully both rinks are operating fine at the time of press.
 
Builders clearing away the rubble from the partly demolished Streatham Ice Rink were pleasantly surprised to discover a time capsule under the foundation stone of the building.
 
The Streatham Guardian reported that the capsule had old coins inside and a few other mementos including a copy of the Streatham Times. The story even hit TV with London Tonight screening the opening of the box. I admit being rather disappointed that lockets of Pete Quineys hair were not discovered inside but maybe when the new rink is built, this could be considered for a 2012 time capsule.
 
Brixton ice rink received a bit of a makeover on Thursday as the Redskins management erected some pretty impressive large nylon banners promoting the team above the team benches.
 
The players waited patiently during training as the main banner was unfurled to reveal a full length colour picture of Captain Ed Koral surrounded by various buzz words. Koral couldn’t hide his delight at his new fame and I would bet a small fortune that he ends up pinning that banner to his bedroom ceiling at some point in the future.
 
Personally I was just pleased that our marketing appears to be better thought out than in previous years. It was only three years ago that our promotional leaflets and poster in the main rink featured a picture of our then centre man Kent Johnson getting destroyed by then Bracknell defenseman Dom Hopkins mid ice.
 
Milton Keynes Thunder received welcome news as it was revealed that star Slovak Maros Stefanco has returned to the UK following a spell in his homeland due to personal reasons. The Thunder certainly need the smooth skating winger to address an awful run of form in recent weeks.
 
Finally bruise of the week comes from Redskins defenseman Adam Mahoney who narrowly edges out Chelmsford forward Michael Ranby’s bruised thumb with a cracker on his thigh.
 
When asked to explain the cause of the bruise, Mahoney stated it was caused by a girl during passionate scenes, so fair play to the smooth skating, smooth talking South Londoner.
 
Saturday
 
You wait for years for a cup final then two come along at once, well not strictly true for Romford, however they did face Wightlink in the second leg of the ‘Raiders Cup’ on the island.
 
Wightlink Player Coach Jeremy Cornish returned from suspension for this game, which was tied at 4-4 after the first leg in Romford.
 
With both sides missing key players, the game was tight up until the end of the second and then the home side took control in the third. The highly rated Joe Rand and former Gosport player Alex Murray hit a brace each for Wightlink, with Dom Hopkins, Steve Gosset and Nathan Taylor getting the other goals.
 
Romford scorers were AJ Smith with two goals and one each from Danny Marshall and Man of the match Grant Taylor.
 
That makes it two wins in a row over the league leaders for Cornish’s side, who will fancy themselves for the play-offs in this form.
 
Another side impressive of late, the Invicta Dynamos took on a visiting Bristol side missing the Hargreaves brothers and Alan Armour amongst others.
 
In a result that not only rips up the form book, but actually pours petrol over it and sets light to it (no help from the afore mentioned Scott Gough required), Bristol posted a 6-3 win in front of a shell shocked Mo’s support.
 
It was the ever more impressive Eggy Bauba who proved a thorn in the Mo’s side as he bagged an early hat trick, which was added to by Sam Feeney, Steve Osman and Shannon Taylor.
 
Mo’s scorers were Ryan Ellis with two and Callum Fowler with a lone goal. The only other piece of good news for the home side was the return to the line-up of Mike Timms after long term injury.
 
The returning Chris Douglas between the pipes helped the Pitbulls no end and Bristol just need to find some consistency and they will be another team looking to do well in the play-offs.
Another twist to the tale was that due to Richie Hargreaves ban, his sister Becci, a highly rated coach herself normally with the Swindon Top Cats womans team had to take charge of the Bristol bench and showed her brother how its done.  
 
The final game on Saturday took place at the Hive, where the improving Bracknell Hornets continued their good form with their third win in a row, this time Milton Keynes Thunder the victims.
 
A 5-1 win was the Hornet’s reward for another hard working display with Ryan Webb hitting a brace and Alan Lack, Tom Carroll and Juraj Chumula getting the other goals. MK’s scorer was Tom Mboya.
It wasnt all good news for the Hornets though as forward Tom Carroll broke his kneecap and will be out for the rest of the season. Lets hope he heals quickly and all goes well with the recovery. Tom is a good player and a key guy for the Hornets so it is a bad blow for player and team alike.
 
Sunday
 
Following their midweek celebrations, Chelmsford hosted basement dwellers Streatham in a game that most observers would have predicted a home win.
 
True to form, the Chieftains never looked in danger from the start as they raced into a 4-0 lead after the first period and went on to win 8-1. Not helped by a 5 minute shorthanded penalty given to Luke Reynolds for high sticking, the Redskins faced the Chieftains power play unit far more than is healthy when you are struggling and conceded four goals by this route.
 
Danny Hammond hit a brace for Chelmsford with Alex Green, Darren Brown, Alan Green, Michael Ranby and Tom Long all getting a goal each. Norm Pinnington was on target for the Redskins in yet another loss on the road.
 
If the Essex side were concentrating on matters at the Riverside, their supporters could have been forgiven for glancing towards Rom Valley Way where league leaders Romford faced a potential banana skin against Invicta.
 
With Dynamos Coach Kevin Parrish looking for some kind of response from the previous day’s disappointment, the Mo’s looked to be ready to cause an upset with the score locked at 0-0 after the first, but the Raiders soon took command and skated off with a 5-2 win.
 
Anthony Leone, Danny Marshall, Matt Turner, JJ McGrath and Shaun Wallis were on target for Romford with Andy Smith and Callum Best getting the goals for the Mo’s.
 
Quite often a thorn in the side of Wightlink in years gone by, MK Thunder welcomed the ‘Raiders Cup winners’ to the Thunder dome hoping yet again to take points of the island side.
 
Maros Stefanco marked his return with a couple of goals but it was’nt enough to stop Wightlink leaving with a 5-2 win thanks to a brace each from Dom Hopkins and Connor Pollard, and a lone goal from Joe Rand.
 
The result leaves Wightlink comfortably in third position with only two points separating Romford at the top with second placed Chelmsford.
 
 
Results
 
Saturday, February 18, 2012
 
Invicta Dynamos 3 – 6 Bristol Pitbulls  
Bracknell Hornets 5 – 1 Milton Keynes Thunder
Wightlink Raiders 7 – 4 Romford Raiders (Raiders Cup)
 
Sunday, February 19, 2012
 
Romford Raiders 5 – 2    Invicta Dynamos  
Chelmsford Chieftains 8 – 1 Streatham Redskins  
Milton Keynes Thunder 2 – 5 Wightlink Raiders
 
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com