ISLE OF WIGHT, UK – The Wightlink Raiders recovered from a disappointing 3-2 opening day defeat away to the Bracknell Hornets to comprehensively outclass their visitors from North London. The Greyhounds lined up with only ten skaters and once Danny Hughes had opened the scoring after 5:55 with a trademark slapshot the result was never in doubt. The visitors have been tipped to be the league’s whipping boys and in this game did nothing to show that they do not deserve that unwanted accolade. By the first period break the margin had been extended to 6-0. Player coach Jeremy Cornish, making his debut for the Raiders as registration delays had preventing him taking to the ice previously in the Raiders colours, scored twice. Youngster Dave Webb also recorded his first strike for the team and the puck was quickly snaffled by his team mates as a souvenir of the occasion. Island stalwart Andy Robinson also got on the score sheet before a second marker from captain Danny Hughes completed the period’s scoring. The second period continued in the same vein and the Raiders added scores from Alex Murray, Damon Larter and import John Sarno. The Greyhounds woes were further intensified when three of their players were given ten minute misconducts at the same time by referee Rene Ross. Known agitator Dave Richards was penalised for speaking out of turn to the official but the reasons for the misconducts issued to Scott Beeson and Owen Murphy remained unclear to both the players and crowd alike. These penalties forced the Greyhounds to play for half the period without being able to make a full line change and they did very well to restrict the hosts to only three strikes in the period. The third period saw the Raiders take their collective feet of the gas but with the Greyhounds visibly tiring Danny Hughes completed his hat trick, Steve Gosset got himself on the score sheet before two strikes from giant D-man Dan Scott completed the scoring for the Raiders. Dan’s second strike was easily the best of the game as he skated the full length of the ice before surprising even himself with a quality strike high past the keeper. Michael Ranby netted a consolation goal for the Greyhounds. The Raiders will have taken encouragement from this win but will also know that much sterner tests do await in this league, however the core of local players is shaping up well and the team will now travel to Streatham to take on the Redskins in confident mood. Please contact the author on Dave.Logan@Prohockeynews.com
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