Mad Minute Takes the Raiders to Victory

ISLE OF WIGHT , UK – Three quick goals within a minute at the death gave the Wightlink Raiders a 5-1 victory over the Oxford City Stars. The home team were desperate for a victory after successive heavy defeats had thrown their season into some disarray. This was a much improved performance and whilst the scoreline may have been slightly flattering to the hosts, the Raiders always had the edge over the visitors. However until the Raiders late strikes the Stars had always been a threat in what was a fascinating if somewhat attritional match.
 
The Raiders started the match brightly and had the better of the opening period. It took until the eighteenth minute for the deadlock to be broken. But when the goal came it was worth the wait. Damon Larter skating the full length of the rink before putting a fine shot high past the Stars Keeper Skaife.
 
In the second period the Raiders seemed to lose focus and the Stars battled their way back, equalizing through Darren Elliot with a short handed goal. The visitors finished the period in the ascendancy and the home supporters were starting to fear another poor result.
 
The final period started with a bang as Alex Murray put the Raiders back into the lead twenty six seconds in. The Stars continued to battle away but as the period passed the Raiders gradually assumed more and more control before Danny Hughes put the result beyond doubt on 58:57. The visitors then pulled their keeper which allowed Jeremy Cornish to continue his rich vein of scoring with an empty net goal. Danny Hughes then finished off the mad minute with his second strike 12 seconds from the end.
 
This was a much more disciplined performance from the Raiders. Unnecessary penalties have been a blight on this season so far and this was a much more controlled display. Once again the standard of refereeing was at best variable and both teams did well to keep their cool in the light of some very questionable decisions.
 
Youngster Matt Colclough took over in goal from Toby Cooley and had a fine match and was a thoroughly deserved man of the match for the Raiders. Luke Reynolds made a fine debut on the D. Damon Larter also had a solid match and the home fans were cheered to see the captain Danny Hughes show signs of getting back to his fine early season form.
 
Given that the Raiders training the week before had been cancelled due to a flu bug running through the team which had laid low nine of the home players in the week this was a good ground out win and a tonic for both the team and their supporters in the quest for a playoff spot. The Raiders now face struggling Streatham Redskins on home ice this coming Saturday before taking to the road until the 19^th of December.
 
Contact the author Dave.Logan@Prohockeynews.com