LONDON, UK – Most of the NIHL South got a weekend off ahead of the festive period but those that did end up playing ended up creating some cracking action for fans that skipped the shopping for hockey.
There was little festive cheer in Kent as the Invicta Dynamos picked over the bones of recent losses by revealing that their directors had visited the team’s locker room after the home defeat to Romford last weekend.
Chelmsford revenge (Rick Webb)
“The performance was the worst I have seen in 4 years watching the Dynamos and it just isn’t good enough and this is not what we expect as a club” explained Director Glenn Thompson in an interview with Kent Sports News.
“Rightly or wrongly Jackie Mason and I decided something needed to be said to the coach and the players.”
“You don’t mind if you lose and your players (team) has given 100%, but for a team to come out and perform without passion, heart, or desire is not acceptable and probably us going into the dressing room was frustration from seeing the team losing 7-1 to Chelmsford and then 8-4 at home to Romford”
“We are a team from the management down to the players; we go onto the ice as a team and back into the dressing room as a team, not half a team and certainly not individuals”
“Also, when we are on the ice, if a team mate gets pushed around, we man up and defend our team mates not just stand there”
“There are players out there giving 120% each week and I can’t fault them, but there are 5 or 6 players at the moment who don’t deserve to be wearing the Dynamo’s shirt”
Former Chelmsford player Tom Avery was the first departure announced from the Mo’s squad with others reported to be on notice if their performances do not improve.
It is likely to be a kick up the backside rather than any specific threat however with a weekend off, the Mo’s players have to wait until next weekend before they can try and bounce back at home to Streatham.
Avery parts company (David Trevallion)
In Chelmsford, Player Coach Gary Clarke called for cool heads ahead of his side’s derby match up against Romford Raiders.
“They’re a very aggressive hockey team” said Clarke in an interview with This is Total Essex.
“You need to be able to give as much medicine as you take but at the same time stay controlled disciplined and just keep your eye on the prize really. We can’t get sucked or do anything stupid”
“It’s a must win game and we’re going to do everything we can. I don’t think anybody has won in Romford for the past year and a half except us, so we just need to make sure we play our style of hockey and make sure that we don’t get caught up in the occasion and hopefully we’ll come out on top”
With the ball firmly in Romford’s court at the minute things were relaxed down at Rom Valley Way.
“The four-point weekend puts us back at the top of the table and that’s where we want to stay going into the Christmas break” said Mick Cahill in an interview with the Romford Recorder.
“Our only fixture this weekend is at home, the derby showdown with Chelmsford, although I would rather have had a game on Saturday too”
“We are still hurting from being shut out by the Chieftains at Romford earlier in the season, but we intend to hit the ground running on Sunday and are confident of getting a result”
Secret Santa in a Palace Hat
Another Christmas present for Romford fans other than the chance to watch their team beat their bitter local rivals, was the announcement that the car park would be free for all those attending the weekend’s games. No one likes paying for car parking and that’s a fact.
Streatham celebrated their win over Chelmsford last week by holding their secret Santa draw in the locker room before training on Thursday. Never has Captain Joe Johnston been as animated as he was when facilitating the draw, and everyone took part apart from rookie Eddie Temple who is spending the next few weeks on a family cruise in the Mediterranean.
Obviously while the Redskins are taking turns washing under one cold drizzling shower after playing in Invicta next week, we will all be laughing at Eddie as he sits eating lobster with the Temples and Captain Delvecchio with the port of Venice gleaming in the background.
Saturday
Chelmsford got the chance of an early revenge over Streatham with a cup match in Brixton.
The game started quite even but in the second period Chelmsford stepped up a gear and took us apart winning the game 8-2. Chelmsford have some quality forwards and we switched off for just a few minutes and they punished us.
Gary Clarke led from the front with four goals and Julius Sinkovic, Tibor Schneider, Ross Brears and Cameron Bartlett got one each.
For Streatham Russ Stevens and Joe Allen got the goals.
Sunday
The highly anticipated clash between Romford and Chelmsford took place at Rom Valley Way and as usual it was full of drama and controversy.
Chelmsford fans must have thought they had the two points in the bag leading 5-4 with nine seconds left but up stepped Matt Turner to grab a dramatic late equaliser for the home side.
Turner rescues Romford
Romford’s other scorers were Juraj Huska, Billy Phillips, Julian Smith and Shaun Yardley. For Chelmsford Ross Brears got a brace with Danny Hammond, Julius Sinkovic and Gary Clarke getting one each.
Aside from the goals there was a fight between Michael Ranby and Shaun Wallis, and then the lights went out towards the end of the second period as the rink attempted to fix the problem.
The police were allegedly called to sort out some crowd issues and then there were also unsavoury scenes at the end of the game with accusations from both team’s alleging others behaving poorly.
Unfortunately I was not able to attend the game to give a first-hand account and it is always difficult to write about games like this that are full of controversy. However there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed and I am afraid that it has been a few times this season by both players and fans and sometimes I think we all need to take a step back and look at our own actions and then learn from them.
People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones and that’s why you will never see me mention anyone’s skating ability.
Milton Keynes made easy work of their cup fixture in Slough as they beat the resident Jets 7-1.
Connor Goode hit a hat trick for the Thunder with Nidal Phillips and Harrison Goode got a brace each. For the Jets Liam Underdown was on target.
The league fixture list hot’s up next weekend with more sides in action as the sleigh bells get ever louder.
Results
Saturday 15th December 2012
Streatham Redskins 2-8 Chelmsford Chieftains (Cup)
Sunday 16th December 2012
Slough NIHL Jets 1-7 Milton Keynes Thunder (Cup)
Romford Raiders 5-5 Chelmsford Chieftains
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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