Raiders edge Chieftains in Essex derby

ROMFORD, UK – Romford Raiders maintained their unbeaten start to the English National League campaign with a hard-fought 5-4 win over the Chelmsford Chieftains in the first Essex derby of the season. Anthony Leone’s third-period strike would prove decisive for the home side after Tom Long (3) and Gary Clarke had wiped out much of the Raiders initial 4-0 lead given to them by Danny Marshall, AJ Smith and JJ McGrath (2). Smith notably played with a fractured thumb, while the Raiders also missed Frankie Harvey (injury) and Andrius Kaminskas (suspension) and the Chieftains’ Jakub Klima (suspension). Romford also welcomed back former Raider Shaun Wallis to the line-up. Both sides had chances in an often scrappy first period, though it was Romford that crucially managed to forge a two-goal lead by the interval. McGrath scored his first of the night – second of the season – short-side after a scramble involving Tom Davis and Grant Taylor, before Raiders player-coach Marshall snapped a wrister from the left circle past Chieftains starter Ben Clements during a late-period powerplay. Though the first period would prove crucial, it was perhaps an early two-goal burst at the start of the second that would mean most to the home side. McGrath’s second of the game, another wrister from the left face-off circle past Clements, and Smith’s fifth goal of the season would give Raiders plenty of breathing space to work with late in the game. They would need it too as Long notched his first of the night from in front, tipping home Ross Brears feed over Michael Gray’s glove side to get the Chieftains on the board late in the period. Both sides traded goals early in the third as Long’s clinical hat-trick threatened a repeat of last seasons final-minute draw at Rom Valley Way in November. Long’s second and third of the game sandwiched an Anthony Leone strike before Chieftains player-coach Clarke scored to force a frantic final minute. David Wride relieved Chieftains starting goaltender Ben Clements midway through the game to provide some stability in the visitors net, though it was Gray that stole the show with a late buzzer-beating save to preserve the Raiders win and keep them atop the English National League standings with five wins from five. Contact the author – alex.nunn@prohockeynews.com