The impressive Pitchley continues his fine run (John Scott)
Raiders would rightly have expected a stern test from the visiting Thunder after their surprise 4-1 win on the Isle of Wight last weekend, though what transpired was anything but a challenge as free-scoring Raiders moved out of sight inside the games first half en route to an emphatic victory.
David Cassidy, the Thunder’s 56-save hero from last weekend, was rarely to blame as Raiders punished the visitors sloppy defence corps time and time again. AJ Smith, still playing with a fractured thumb, opened the scoring from in front after accepting the impressive JJ Pitchley’s feed from behind the goal-line.
Taylor makes it 6-0… (John Scott)
Player-coach Danny Marshall and captain Anthony Leone scored to make it 3-0, and though a rash of late-period penalties gave Thunder the chance they needed to find a way back into the game on the powerplay, a recovery never really looked likely against an in-form Michael Gray.
Smith and Pitchley combined again at the start of the second period, Smith firing a rebound past Cassidy after the 6’7 stopper had done well to deny Pitchley’s initial attempt on a partial breakaway. Juraj Huska capitalised on more sloppy defensive work to set up Matt Turner at the side of the net, before Grant Taylor’s night came to an abrupt end for, shall we say, an excessive use of his fists against the Thunder’s Harrison Goode.
… before making an early exit (John Scott)
Pitchley deservedly got on the scoresheet early in the third period, somehow sneaking the puck past Cassidy after a nice move down the right side. He and JJ McGrath continued to work tirelessly around the Thunder net, only a number of excellent stops denying them another.
Marshall notched his second of the game, a wrist shot from in close, on a delayed penalty call as Raiders made the most of their man advantage with Gray at the bench, before McGrath capped the scoring from the right face-off circle following another prolonged spell of possession for the home side.
On Sunday, Raiders travelled to Gillingham for a South East Cup game against the Invicta Dynamos.
Buckman denied (John Scott)
Dynamos’ defence has been earmarked as their biggest weakness this season and as such it came as little surprise to see free-scoring Raiders skate away with the points in an emphatic 10-5 win, Marshall (3), Leone, Pitchley, McGrath, Juraj Huska, Andrius Kaminskas (2) and Billy Phillips the scorers as Raiders made it two for two in the four-team cup competition.
Raiders welcome pointless Bracknell Hornets to Rom Valley Way in the league next Sunday, a day after visiting Ryde for a South East Cup game against the Isle of Wight.
Contact the author – alex.nunn@prohockeynews.com
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