Raiders regain lead with derby win

ROMFORD, UK – Romford Raiders regained their lead atop the English National League South One table with a 5-2 win over the second-placed Chelmsford Chieftains in the final league derby of the regular season. Raiders gained revenge for last Sunday’s defeat at the hands of the Chieftains as Juraj Huska’s four-point night led the visitors to a decisive win at Chelmsford’s Riverside rink. Huska was the architect for much of the Raiders offence, setting up Shaun Yardley, Billy Phillips and Matt Turner en-route to breaking the 200-point mark in Raiders colours. The Slovakian would also tally the Raiders fourth goal of the night, while Danny Hammond and Gary Clarke registered for the Chieftains. Michael Gray made 27 saves to secure the win. Raiders steered clear of the penalty problems that blighted last Sunday’s 4-1 derby defeat, a key factor in a game that saw Chelmsford penalised regularly through the first and third periods. Sunday’s win completed a four-point weekend for Raiders, who dispatched the Bristol Pitbulls 9-2 on Saturday afternoon. Bristol, much-improved of late and sporting recent signing Chris Douglas between the pipes, worked tirelessly throughout and will perhaps regret not cashing in on an early spell of pressure before Raiders took over control of the game. Michael Gray, returning to the Raiders line-up after a six-week absence, had to be sharp to deny a bright Bristol side early on. At the other end, Douglas made a fine save on Jason Buckman’s one-timer before closing the five-hole on Anthony Leone’s wrist shot. With chances coming thick and fast, it was no surprise to see Raiders finally make their pressure pay. Andrius Kaminskas’ rush up the ice forced Douglas into a sharp save, though he could only turn the puck loose to the grateful Leone who fired home the rebound. Shaun Yardley continued his fine early form in gold and blue, setting up player-coach Danny Marshall to double the lead soon after. Raiders continued to pepper the Pitbulls goal, outshooting the visitors by a healthy 16-5 marker in the opening period, though they were denied a further scoreboard addition before the break. Steve Osman pulled one back for the Pitbulls early in the second period, firing home a rebound after his initial cross-crease pass had been blocked on a breakaway. Raiders quickly responded on the powerplay though, Tyrone Miller’s point shot deflecting past Douglas. And Romford continued to reap the rewards with the extra man, tallying again on the powerplay through Tom Davis’ rebound. Matt Turner’s partial break-in from the Pitbulls blueline made it 5-1, before Turner and AJ Smith, reunited on the second line by Marshall, combined on a tic-tac passing play that was eventually finished off by the trailing Kaminskas. Raiders struck twice shorthanded as Bristol’s powerplay misfired dramatically in the third period. Turner and AJ Smith combined again on a 2-on-1 breakaway, Smith leaving the puck for Turner to fire home off the crossbar. And Juraj Huska’s lifted pass sprang Marshall soon after to make it 8-1. Mike Hargreaves late consolation strike was perhaps due reward for the Pitbulls continued hard work in spite of the lopsided scoreline, though it was Raiders’ captain Leone that would end the scoring, lifting a backhand over Bristol’s replacement goaltender John Dibble from the top of the left circle. Contact the author – alex.nunn@prohockeynews.com