ROMFORD, UK – Romford Raiders celebrated a clean sweep of the South East Trophy competition with an 8-5 win over the Chelmsford Chieftains at Rom Valley Way on Monday night.
Raiders celebrate South East Trophy success (John Scott)
Raiders were crowned tournament winners last November following a 7-5 victory at the Chieftains’ Riverside rink, and they wrapped up the competition in style with another impressive win over their Essex rivals in front of a bumper New Years crowd.
Andrius Kaminskas’ interference minor gave the Chieftains an early powerplay chance, one that Danny Hammond duly capitalised on with a short-side finish past Glen Jackson from Tom Long’s setup. Kaminskas, back on the ice, grudgingly accepted Cameron Bartlett’s perhaps ill-advised challenge before landing a flurry of punches to the young Chieftains forward. Both received matching 2+2 roughing penalties, while Bartlett was handed an additional 10-minute misconduct.
Turner bags another goal against his old team (John Scott)
Raiders’ captain Anthony Leone tied the game following good work behind the net by Shaun Wallis. Leone roofed the puck past Chieftains goaltender Ben Clements after it had rolled loose in front of the net.
Penalties to Alex Staples (holding) and Ross Brears (hooking) handed Raiders a 90-second 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity, one which Juraj Huska capitalised on with a one-time finish from Billy Phillips cross-ice pass. Raiders were unable to score on the continuing 5-on-4 powerplay, though Matt Turner’s wonderful solo effort late in the period gave the home side a 3-1 lead at the first interval.
Jakub Klima’s tremendous wrist-shot off the rush saw the Chieftains move to within one early in the second period, and though Leone’s second of the night briefly reinstated Raiders’ two-goal lead, further tallies by Klima and James Ayling had the visitors level after 40 minutes.
McGrath vs. Cox (John Scott)
Also of note in the second period was a headline tilt between JJ McGrath and Danny Cox. Cox got the takedown, though both landed some strong punches.
Tyrone Miller’s early third-period goal (initially credited as a hat-trick deflection to Leone) gave the Raiders a perfect start to the final period. Chieftains player-coach Gary Clarke briefly tied the scores on the powerplay after a hooking call to the Raiders’ Billy Phillips, before Raiders’ tallied a further three goals, including Jason Buckman’s ice-length empty-netter, to seal their sixth consecutive win in the competition.
Raiders return to league action this weekend with a double-header against the Streatham Redksins. Romford travel to Streatham’s new Brixton rink on Saturday before welcoming the ‘Skins to RVW on Sunday evening for a 5:15pm face-off.
Contact the author – alex.nunn@prohockeynews.com
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