Solent Devils head coach, Alex Murray, spent Sunday evening on the bench as league leaders Chelmsford Chieftains visited Gosport, following Murray’s injury the previous weekend in Streatham.
Mason Wild making a break down the wing
Andrew Magee was back in a Devils home shirt, and looked happy to be back in front of the Solent crowd, who cheered loudly when Magee’s name was called prior to the start of the game. Magee was a firm favourite with the Solent fans last season, as he lead the team in goals, and many were sorry to see that he had signed for Oxford City Stars at the beginning of this season, however due to differences at Oxford, Magee didn’t last long their and talking to Alex Murray before Christmas brought him back to the Devils.
Magee seems to have found a new strike partner this season, teaming up with Alex Trendall, this pair using their speed to shock the Chelmsford defence several times throughout the game, and force Ben Clements protecting the Chieftains goal in to making several big saves in all three periods.
Right from the puck drop, Chieftains were pushing hard, obviously expecting eighth place Devils to be a pushover, however the Devils were not going down without a fight, and the play went end to end with neither team dominating the other.
Ten minutes in however, Christian Cole in the Devils goal, was forced to make a save following a huge shot from Cameron Bartlett at the blue line. Not managing to freeze the puck, it bounced off Cole’s pads, as Cole himself toppled forward. Seeing Matthew Turner coming in hard for the puck, Cole was at full stretch trying to get any part of his body in the way, but Turner managed to lift it over Cole’s stick and flick it in to the top corner of the net.
Christian Cole facing down a shot
Referee, Blaine Evans had to stamp his authority on the game a few minutes later, when he called offside and rather upset several of the Chieftains. The Devils tried to clear the puck from their zone, and it was caught on the blue line by Lukas Zatopek. Evans said it had crossed the blue line, which Chieftains alternate captain, Anthony Leone, objected to. Leone was told to hold his objections by Evans, but Leone skated closer for a quick chat with the ref, and then was given two plus ten on a misconduct penalty.
The second period continued much as the first had, with the visitors battling hard against the underdog home team, but not seeming to make any ground.
Even when short handed, due to Alex Cole being in the penalty box following a charging foul, the Devils refused to let the Chieftains get the better of them, George Norcliffe going on several runs to the Chelmsford goal.
Alex Cole taking the puck behind the Devils goal, keeping it from Matthew Turner
Just after Cole came back to the ice, the Devils lost Shaun Rudkin for high sticks, and despite Chelmsford’s best efforts, they did not manage to get any more goals following almost four minutes of power play advantage. While the Devils defence were huge, Cole in the goal was on top form, making save after save and proving to many why he is the number one pick in the Devils goal.
Just prior to the end of the second period, Chieftains top scorer for the season, Juraj Huska, was aggressively attacking the Devils goal and caught up in the moment was seen checking from behind against Ralfs Circenis. This earned him an automatic two plus ten.
The third period started, with the score still reading 1-0 to Chelmsford, and Devils on a power play. Unfortunately, the Devils couldn’t capitalise on this.
Minutes later, Alex Staples elbowed Alex Cole, Cole obviously took umbrage at this, and retaliated with his fist. Both players were given two minute penalties for this.
While they were off, James Ayling came very close to extending Chelmsford’s lead, almost dragging a pair of Devils defenders from the centre line, managing a shot from just a few meters in front of the goal, which beat Cole, but being denied by the post.
Play continued, going end to end, then on a breakaway, Mitch Murray took the puck out of the Devils zone, finding Trendall in space, Trendal became the middle man with Magee managing to tie the score, making the crowd go wild in the process.
Devils captain, Alex Cole
Chelmsford were doing everything they could, and with a scramble in front of the Devils goal both teams lost a player to the ever hungry sin bin. Charlie Phillips for Chieftains, and Rudkin for the Devils.
The puck was iced from the Devils zone, and was brought back by the referee. Chieftains captain, Julian Smith, won the face off and sent the puck to Huska, it was taken round behind the Devils goal, and passed off to Olegs Lascenko who put the visitors back in the lead.
Seconds later, Ben Lock was sent out for holding, which seemed to confuse many in the rink, especially as Lock ended up face down in the Devils net.
Chieftains managed to use the power play this gave them, as they were moving the puck around the Devils zone, newest signing to the Chelmsford line up Billy Phillips took a huge shot that bounced off Cole’s chest. It was picked up by Matthew Turner, who managed to knock it past Cole, doubling Chelmsford’s lead.
Devils couldn’t respond to either of these goals in the three minutes remaining of the game, and the final buzzer sounded with the score at 3-1 to Chelmsford.
All game photos courtesy of Lisa Webb
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