Cornish vs. McGrath%2C early (John Scott)
ROMFORD, UK – Romford Raiders avenged last weekend’s 2-1 loss on the Isle of Wight in some style, dispatching the Wightlink Raiders 7-2 to end their 23-game unbeaten run. JJ McGrath and Wightlink player-coach Jeremy Cornish set the tone early on with a headline tilt after just 90 seconds, McGrath decisively besting the big Canadian at centre ice. Romford took their chances in a tight, physical first period. Juraj Huska forced a forehand wraparound past Matt Colclough on the short-side after the Wightlink goaltender had left space over his shoulder. It was the Slovakian’s 43
rd goal of a highly productive season and a swift precursor to the Raiders second goal just two minutes later. Romford captain Anthony Leone snuck a wrist shot through Colclough’s pads on an odd-man rush to send his team into the break with an opportunistic two-goal cushion. Wightlink responded in kind during the second period, Dom Hopkins and Alex Murray restoring parity for the visitors during a tight 20 minutes of hockey. Hopkins scored from the blueline with a slap-shot that caught Romford goaltender Michael Gray up high, whilst Murray managed to jam the puck past Gray with just three seconds remaining in the period to tie things up. With the first two periods offering little separation between two evenly matched teams, it came as some surprise to see Romford emphatically pull away in the third as they scored five times without reply. Tom Davis split the sides with a wrister from the left circle that Colclough really should have fared better with, Leone and AJ Smith both hitting the post soon after as Romford turned the screw. McGrath, Huska, Smith and Billy Phillips all scored in quick succession before David Oliver and Brad Watchorn dropped the gloves for the second fight of the game. Penalties were doled out as things began to boil over; Cornish (unsportsmanlike conduct), Watchorn (roughing, game misconduct), Phillips (spearing) and Oliver (roughing, leaving the bench) all ending their nights early at the tail-end of the third. Last weekends defeat on the Island may have dimmed the Raiders’ league title aspirations somewhat, but Sunday’s win provides a timely reminder that Romford will fear no-one come playoff time. Contact the author –
alex.nunn@prohockeynews.comRelated
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