LONDON, UK – The Britton conference ended week four of the 2019/20 campaign with Streatham showing their credentials and both Cardiff and MK Thunder still winless after five games.
Streatham all smiles
The EIHA re-introduced their monthly awards during the week with Slough Jets forward Sean Norris scooping the first of the season in the Britton Conference. The Slough youngster topped the scoring charts in the month of September and in typical fashion, was announced as injured for the weekend fixtures.
In Gillingham it was team photo night for the Invicta Dynamos. It’s often hard to know the best time to take a team photo, especially as teams rarely take more than one during the season.
“I remember when I was front row”
Go too early and anyone getting the tin tack or transferring to another club can really ruin the merchandise later on in the season. Who really wants a mouse mat featuring a guy who blew off two months in because things were looking too tough?
Regardless, the current Mo’s squad cemented their place in the archives supervised by the one and only Grant Baxter.
Speaking of merchandise, Chelmsford Chieftains unveiled their new range including an item seldom seen in hockey. For £1.50 or 3 for £4.00 you can now buy a Chieftains car air freshener. The question is, what exactly does a hockey air freshener smell of. Could it be the irresistible odour of ‘glove hand’ or the stale magic of damp matting? We’re guessing the Chieftains have mixed some of Ben Clements’ aftershave with samples of water from the river that flows past the rink to tickle the senses of any driver as they steam up and down the A12.
Stedman goes blue
In the South London Press, Rupe Quiney admitted Streatham’s weekend game against Slough would be a big challenge.
“Slough away will probably be our toughest test yet” said the RedHawks Alternate Captain.
“The 7-2 scoreline didn’t show it in the league opener, but they gave us the biggest problems of anyone so far.
“Getting a win there would be a real statement of who we are and what we’re capable of this year.”
Winner of bruise of the week went to Jake Stedman of the Dynamos who took a beauty to the torso during his team’s win against MK Thunder.
Saturday review
Bracknell Hornets bounced back from going a goal down early on, to win 3-1 against Cardiff Fire, making it three wins in a row for Mark Saunders’ men. Elis Sheppard scored after 12 minutes for the Fire at the Hive before former Cardiff players Tamas Elias and Steve Osman struck for the Hornets along with Ben Ealey-Newman.
Streatham moved up to second place in the league after a surprisingly heavy 7-0 defeat of Slough Jets at the Hangar. Vanya Antonov fired home a brace for the Londoners to add to goals from Michael Farn, Ben Paynter, Ziggy Beesley, James Warman and Brandon Miles. RedHawks goalie Damien King secured a 31 shot shut out – his first of the season.
Solent Devils bagged another big win on home ice as they beat Invicta Dynamos 4-3 in overtime. Conor Redmond, Owen Dell and Tom Davis notched for the Mo’s with Mark Pitts, Alex Trendall, Dan Lackey and Alex Murray on target for the Devils.
Lackey and Murray gave their post-game thoughts, with the coach again still in his sweats after his game winning goal – slow dresser or too busy to change – who knows. Murray admitted there are no easy games in the league and he was looking forward to showing what the Devils can do this year. Watch it here.
The final game of the evening took place at the Sapphire as the Junior Raiders dispatched MK Thunder 4-1 thanks to goals from George Gell, Alan Lack, Matt Brown and Ewan Hill. For the Thunder Luke Curtis got the consolation with netminder Graham Laverick a busy man between the pipes facing 50 shots.
Sunday review
Slough bounced back to keep their place at the top of the league with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win at the Riverside against Chelmsford Chieftains.
The Chieftains were leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Adam Jakopin and Grant Bartlett, before a stunning comeback from the Jets courtesy of a goal from Sam Talbot and a brace from Captain Dan Rose. Rose equalised in regulation time with just 3 seconds remaining before bagging the overtime winner in under two minutes.
Chieftains fall to Jets (Gallow Wood Media)
The Chieftains’ cause wasn’t helped by the ejection of Bartlett after only nine minutes on a third man in call.
Streatham were made to work for their fifth league win in a row by a dogged Oxford side backstopped by Ross Miller between the pipes. The game ended 4-1 in the RedHawks favour thanks to a hat trick from Danny Ingoldsby and an empty netter from Adam Carr. The Stars consolation came from Mike Whillock. RedHawks netminder Nate Gregory made his first start for the hosts this season after recovering from injury.
In the period break SCORO competition, there was a ray of light for the visitors as Stars fan Ian Ockwell won £207, firing through the centre hole in the wooden board from the red line. If that wasn’t impressive enough, star sniper Ian kindly donated £10 of his winnings to his fellow two contestants who could both theoretically head across the road to Morley’s for a mountain burger meal and still have change to spare.
Bracknell Hornets secured an impressive four point weekend in a Heineken League style 9-7 road win at Invicta Dynamos. A massive five goal haul for Ben Ealey-Newman caused the bulk of the damage for the visitors with a Steve Osman hat trick and Michael Stratford solo effort making up the tally.
For the Dynamos Juraj Huska scored a hat trick to add to a brace each for Tom Davis and Anthony Leone. The poor Mo’s video editor and producer Paul Bennett is now left with some serious editing to do as 16 goals reigned in from all angles.
Austin takes the hat!
The Junior Raiders secured back to back wins over MK Thunder and a four point weekend with an emphatic 11-0 win at the Thunderdome.
Raiders’ stopper Thomas Adams earned a 22 shot shut out in a night to forget for the hosts.
Tommy Huggett bagged five for Ben Pitchley’s side with George Gell and Sam Austin scoring two each to add to lone goals for Ewan Hill and Jan Marcilis.
Multiple fights towards the end of the second and beginning of the third period meant everyone was late getting home after the game.
Pick of the games next week include a tough test for league leaders Slough at home to Invicta, and Bracknell aiming to make it five wins in a row at home to Chelmsford.
Results
Saturday 5 October
Junior Raiders 4-1 MK Thunder
Solent Devils 3-3 Invicta Dynamos (Devils win in overtime)
Slough Jets 0-7 Streatham IHC
Bracknell Hornets 3-1 Cardiff Fire
Sunday 6 October
Streatham IHC 4-1 Oxford City Stars
MK Thunder 0-11 Junior Raiders
Invicta Dynamos 7-9 Bracknell Hornets
Chelmsford Chieftains 2-2 Slough Jets (Slough win in overtime)
Contact the author davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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