It was a tough weekend for the Solent Devils this weekend, as they faced back to back games against Streatham.
Saturday night, Streatham played host to the Devils for what was to be a passionate game from both teams.
The first penalty was awarded before two minutes of play had even happened, when Sean Scarborough was sent out for interference.
Both teams managed to keep on the right side of the officials for a few minutes, but it didn’t take long until Mark Baroni got the first Devils penalty of the night, after he was found hooking.
With both teams back at full strength, the Devils pushed hard, captain Alex Cole knocking the puck to Sam Rudkin, where it was sent on to Paul Petts. Petts went on to open the scoring, getting his first goal as a Devil, just over half way through the first period.
The play went end to end, both teams countering the other, and has the mid-point of the game approached, Conor Redmond was sent to the penalty box for delay of game. Devils used the extra man, pressuring the Streatham defence, Mark Baroni and Richard Facey giving Mitch Murray all the help he needed to double the Devils lead.
Devils managed to make it 3-0 a few minutes later, when head coach, Alex Murray beat Euan King in the Streatham goal. Assists on this goal from Richard Facey and Mitch Murray.
Streatham managed to claw a goal back shortly after, Redmond sending the puck to Callum Best, who gave it up for Michal Oravec to put it in to the net.
Half way through the third, with the Devils once again on the powerplay (Oravec in the penalty box for hooking), the Murray brothers teamed up to get Facey in to the position that Facey’s finish made the score 4-1.
Proving that they weren’t prepared to give up, Streatham rallied, and less than two minutes later James Warman picked up an assist by helping Sean Scarborough send the puck in to the Devils goal for the second time of the game.
Despite both teams best efforts, neither managed to increase their score, and the game ended 4-2 to the Devils.
Sunday, it was the turn of the Devils to play host to Streatham.
The Devils were obviously happy with their win the night before, while Streatham were less so. On the night, the most active person in the Gosport Arena was the man working the door of the sin bin. Streatham managed to pick up fifty eight minutes in penalties during this one game.
The game started well, looking like it was going to be a treat for the spectators. Early on, Mitch Murray and Steven Fisher had words, which escalated to both players getting a rest for roughing.
Streatham managed to open the scoring, half way through the first period, Fisher finding Callum Best, who brought the puck down the wing, in to the Devils zone. With Christian Cole trying to fill all the gaps as Best came in fast, he moved forwards, leaving a gap behind him, a gap that was exploited by Michal Oravec. A quick cross from Best, and despite Cole’s best effort, Oravec managed to slide the puck under the net minder’s leg and in to the goal.
It took the Devils well in to the second period to equalise, but when the Devils picked up the puck in their defensive zone, Alex Trendall passed it to Matt Lawday. Lawday, sent the puck on to Mark Pitts, who took it over the Streatham blue line. A quick wrist shot looked to have been caught by Euan King, but the puck had been moving faster than King thought, and was found to have made it all the way through to the net.
Not long in to the start of the third, started a situation that overshadowed the whole hockey weekend. Fisher boarding Trendall gave Fisher a penalty, but also caused both sets of players to come together. Mitch Murray and Casimir Madren-Britton having words with each other, leading to them trading blows. Both players were escorted to the penalty box, and seated in their relevant areas.
While in the sin bin, Fisher and Britton continued trading words with Murray, the pair of Streatham players finding the buttons to press to really get Murray going. Fortunately, security was on hand to prevent Murray getting too close to the other players, referee Deana Cuglietta game over to try to enforce calm.
Unfortunately, the situation escalated, and Murray was ejected from the game.
Minutes later, Streatham took the lead once more, net minder King clearing the puck to Britton, who managed to find Oravec. Oravec fired in a shot from range, beating Cole, making the score 2-1.
Two minutes from the end of the game, Devils called a time out, and Cole to try and get an advantage by having an extra player on the ice. This didn’t work out for the Devils, as the puck was dropped in the Streatham zone, scooped out by James Warman to Fisher, sent on to Best, who took it all the way down the rink to slide it in to the empty goal.
The game ended 3-1 in favour of Streatham.
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