ENL South Round-up Week 6

LONDON, UK – Old friends become foes, familiar faces depart and the Invicta machine finally clicks into gear.
 
The current Dalai Lama’s mother once stayed for six weeks on the Isle of Wight after recovering from a throat operation in the 1960’s. Mrs Lama is sadly no longer of this earth, however Ryde Ice Arena on Saturday night would not have given her son much spiritual enlightenment had the peace loving Buddhist dropped by to watch the Wightlink Raiders tie 2-2 with the Oxford City Stars.

 
Prior to the game it was announced that long serving net minder Toby Cooley was retiring from the Raiders set up after 13 seasons on the Island with the club. Work commitments were cited, so Cooley could theoretically strap on the pads again if his circumstances change. Big defenseman James Francis has also left the club, as he switches one small ice pad for another with his move to Solent & Gosport.    
 
“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them”, the Dalai Lama once mused, but clearly Raiders Head Coach Jeremy Cornish didn’t have that particular phrase in mind, as his side decided to get ugly with just seconds remaining in the game.
 
The game had started badly for the Raiders with the Stars racing into a two goal lead in under ten minutes thanks to goals from Alan Green and Joe Edwards. The home side did manage to pull level courtesy of goals from Damon Larter and Dan Scott, but sadly it was the fighting at the end that grabbed the headlines rather than the fight back on the scoreboard.
 
As with any controversy in hockey, there are two sides to every story and even more so when the stories are told by those in replica jerseys. The main culprits can however be identified via the penalty minutes dished out by referee Ian Hayden. Raiders forward Brad Watchorn will be taking a mini break from hockey after he received 2+5+Game+Match penalty for a combination of roughing and resisting officials, as will team mate Kev Tanner who received a straight match penalty for roughing. Stars players Alan Green and Andy Cox both received two minutes each for roughing, with Green also receiving two minutes for a hook on Stewart Tait which was the catalyst for the mini on ice riot.
 
All this was rounded off by former Raiders coach and now Stars player Gareth Endicott playing the role of pantomime villain in front of his former fans. One would suspect that the Lama would not have been impressed with such shenanigans.
 
If a flare up between the Raiders and Stars was unexpected, the clash between Cardiff ENL Devils and Invicta Dynamos was certainly expected to be feisty. There is little love lost between both clubs and last season’s encounters were not for the faint hearted.
 
Frustratingly for Devils coach Mark Cuddihy, his side were not only beaten, but they were beaten well by the visiting Dynamos with a convincing 8-1 victory. Cometh the hour, cometh the Calitri would be a suitable headline, as the Mo’s bearded Canadian turned in his best performance of the year with five goals.
 
Two goals from Callum Fowler and a rare effort from defenseman Anthony Lennon condemned Cardiff to their heaviest defeat on home ice in a number of years. Stephen Deacon got the consolation for the home side.
Blue liners Tim Smith and Ryan Giles dropped the gloves with Cardiff forwards David James and Michael Hutchings, and Dynamo Corey Watkins was stretchered off the ice with ligament damage against his old club.
 
The final game on Saturday saw Bracknell Hornets host Romford Raiders. Most fans of the Raiders are used to watching their side take on the EPL Bees when they visit the Hive so they probably travelled to Berkshire fully expecting to see their side bring home two points.
 
Like Wightlink last season, the Raiders are soon realising that dropping to the ENL is not the cake walk it may appear on paper, even if you do have the excellent Frankie Harvey in your ranks. Still there was at least one familiar face on display as long serving former Raider Ben Pitchley took his usual spot behind the Hornets bench. The Bracknell Head coach must have been delighted with his side’s spirit as they bounced back from 2-0 down to take a point off the visitors with a 4-4 tie.
 
A Harvey hat-trick and lone goal for Tom Davis earned the Raiders a draw, and the Hornets goals came from Tom Carroll, Tony Barclay, Grant Rounding and Tom Avery. It was a perfect reply from defenseman Avery who last week had dropped down on a two way contract from the EPL Bracknell Bees roster, with Ben Austin going the other way.
 
Sunday originally had five fixtures on the calendar but sadly Chelmsford’s ongoing ice issues meant that the Chieftains clash with the Streatham Redskins was postponed. So whilst the Chieftains and Redskins were enjoying a lazy Sunday in the autumn sunshine, the other ENL teams did battle on the ice.
 
Invicta continued their wild-west adventure as they suitably demolished Bristol Pitbulls 12-6 at Frogmore Street. Callum Fowler hit four goals for the visitors and Andy Smith hit a hat-trick. Two goals from Scott Beeson and one each for Daniel Borges, Daniel Calitri and Tim Smith also added to the Mo’s tally. For the home side, two goals from Alan Armour and one each for Rob Jones, Rich Hargreaves, Phil Dibble and Steve Osman added to the scoresheet.
 
In the second period, Calitri and Hargreaves locked horns as did Luke Merrick and Fowler. All four were given roughing penalties.
 
A four point weekend for the reigning champions and two performances from Calitri that will raise his stock with the Dynamos fan base. The Mo’s now sit at the top of the league and Head Coach Kev Parrish will be delighted with the way his team have knitted together. Title favourites as early as October? It would seem so.
 
Oxford had an altogether calmer night on home ice as they took on the visiting Bracknell Hornets. The Stars have had mixed results against the Hornets over the last few years so the hard fought 3-2 win for the home side was hardly unexpected. Oxfords scorers were Dax Hedges, Darren Elliott and Joe Edwards and Bracknell’s goals came from Grant Rounding and Joe Reynolds.
 
Oxford Coach Ken Forshee will no doubt be delighted with a three point weekend as his side continue to maintain their decent start.
 
Milton Keynes Thunder were hoping to arrest their recent slump against a Cardiff side still fuming from the previous day’s heavy defeat on home ice. The Welsh side have not always travelled well, and the Thunder have shown signs recently that they are starting to click.
 
Sadly for the Thunder, it was the Devils who took home the two points with a 5-2 win. A brace from Tim Burrows and one each for Chris Jones, Rob Sedlak and Steve Maile sealed the win for the Devils with Nidal Phillips and Ross Bowers grabbing the Thunder’s goals. The game was also notable for the cameo performance from ‘retired’ Thunder defenseman Michael Knights. Lets hope the Wearsider decides to return full time to the game.
 
Swindon ENL Wildcats and Wightlink had a late night as their 19.15 face off at the Link Centre was delayed even further to the frustration of both sides. The Wildcats probably wish that this game had never faced off at all as they ended up losing convincingly on home ice as the Raiders routed them 8-0.
 
Scorers for Wightlink were Robbie Brown with two goals, Jeremy Cornish, Nathan Taylor, Kieron Annis, Jason Gorrie, Andy Robinson and Alex Murray.
 
So another week over and what have we learnt? Invicta are on fire, but the rest are inconsistent. Romford and Wightlink are dropping points in places where the Mo’s are unlikely to do the same. Heads now turn to Chelmsford to see if they can build up a run of form and challenge the Kent side.
 
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com