ROMFORD, UK – Sunday afternoon’s straightforward 7-0 shutout of the MK Thunder gave the Romford Raiders their ninth consecutive league victory. The Thunder were trimmed to just nine skaters for the game, something that to their immense credit did little to hinder their hustle in a scrappy opening period. Their defence blocked passing lanes and collapsed well down low, denying space through the crease for Romford‘s strong passing game to utilise. Physically the Raiders’ deeper roster wore down their opponents though, Billy Phillips delivering the first of four big open-ice hits before Tom Davis opened the scoring. Davis scored from in front after good work from Reece Covington and JJ McGrath, McGrath backhanding a pass to the stick of Davis from behind the net. The Raiders plugged away for the remainder of the first period, but a combination of near-misses and a well drilled Thunder defence saw the home side restricted to just a one-goal lead at the break – Mark Woolf’s final-second stop on an odd-man rush crucial for the tiring visitors. Hard as they’d worked in the first, a lack of numbers clearly became much more apparent in the second period. Romford spent large swathes of the period camped in the Thunder end of the ice, working behind the net to set up in front. Frankie Harvey notched the crucial second goal for Romford during an early powerplay, turning home Tyrone Miller’s cross-ice pass after Juraj Huska had gone end-to-end and fed Miller at the point. Both goaltenders stood tall after that, Michael Gray stopping three consecutive shots in dramatic fashion before Woolf joined in with a smart double save of his own, stretching out his right pad on a big rebound. The home side wouldn’t be denied though, Huska making it 3-0 with a shorthanded, solo effort soon after. The Slovakian jumped on a loose puck, stripped the defenceman and fired a shot short-side past Woolf on the turn for his 26th of the season. McGrath soon bagged his sixth goal of a productive stretch, turning in a rebound from Davis’ point shot as the Raiders did enough in a workmanlike performance. AJ Smith made it 5-0 early in the third before Pierre Wilhelmsson deservedly made it six, the big Swede firing a wrist shot past Woolf after a great setup by Jason Buckman behind the net. Huska capped the scoring on the powerplay soon after, the Raiders completing an important win over a hard-working, gutsy Thunder team that deserve much more credit than the 7-0 scoreline will give them. Contact the author – alex.nunn@prohockeynews.com
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