MILTON KEYNES, UK – It’s a sunny day in Milton Keynes with a long snaking queue of hockey fans in colourful replica jerseys waiting to get inside.
Streatham finally win the Play-Offs by Fusional
Vast numbers of black and gold Chelmsford Chieftains tops mixed in with the red colours of Streatham and splashes of blue from supporters of Invicta Dynamos, Slough Jets, Bristol Pitbulls and Romford Jnr Raiders.
The Final Four of the Britton Conference Play-Offs is set for its showpiece event with South London side Streatham taking on the Chelmsford Chieftains of Essex.
The top two tiers of UK Hockey have hosted these types of events for years, however for one reason or another, NIHL South 1 has not. The Final Four’s organisation and smooth running are down to the efforts of EIHA Events Manager Steve Merry and his team.
The previous day saw two semi-finals take place, both with their own unique storyline. League Champions Streatham progressed after beating a Romford side, that was packed with young talent and who’d unexpectedly made the show thanks to an impressive two-legged quarter final win over Solent Devils.
Chelmsford secured their final place despite throwing away a three-goal lead against Bristol late on in regulation, before snatching victory forty-six seconds into overtime. Video footage posted on social media highlighting exactly what Play-Off hockey is all about, with fans in full voice and the passion of the players involved clear to see in a chaotic finish.
The final buzzer also marked the last ever game for Richie Hargreaves. Bristol’s talismanic GM/Player/Coach/Jackie Moon whose dream of bringing his team back home to Bristol after a nomadic decade, materialised in style with weekly sell-out crowds at their new facility.
Hargreaves last dance
A full block of Bristol fans resplendent in club colours and merchandise saluting the 43-year-old veteran and his team was a fitting end to his on-ice story, even without a trophy.
Back outside the rink and the match officials arrive smiling on e-scooters, presumably after a pleasant journey through the city centre in the sunshine. As upholders of the law, no doubt they adhered strictly to the highway code and didn’t steam over a MK roundabout flower bed en-route.
Nearby, pacing around outside is Streatham Player Coach Michael Farn. Frowning and deep in thought, he’s found out on the day of the final that his top scorer Vanya Antonov is now suspended and will take no part in the upcoming game. Despite three trophies secured already this season, including a league title, this event is about more than just the Play-Offs.
A long-time player with the Milton Keynes Lightning, this rink and city has personal significance. Still a resident, Farn has won trophies here in the past as Lightning player but never as a player coach and never with a club that only recently ended a 38-year trophy drought. There’s also the small issue that he already announced he will retire at the end of the campaign. A loss in this arena on his final competitive appearance would be unthinkable.
Farn’s last skate in MK
Inside the rink, Antonov’s suspension is the talking point for all. After a video review he’s been banned for kicking in yesterday’s semi final. A standout player and the league top scorer, Streatham’s points’ machine is a big loss for the favourites and a huge boost to Chelmsford, whose fourth-place league finish belies the quality of their roster.
The Chieftain’s have had Streatham’s number in every Play-Offs in the last decade or so. They’ve also been one of the few teams to beat Farn’s men this year and games have mostly been close between the two sides.
They have the largest number of fans in attendance of any of four teams present and the pre-game team news has only boosted their enthusiasm.
Opposite them sit Streatham’s supporters. Fewer in number and looking rather more anxious than normal they make no less noise to the beat of their drum.
Queues outside by Tony Sargent
Some of the Streatham contingent remember the 1980’s when their team was in the top tier of UK hockey and have endured every emotion known to hockey fans since – mostly disappointment with few highlights until recent years. The Chieftains dominance of the early 2010’s in all competitions at this level, made them a powerhouse and a team that could be said to have underachieved so far this campaign.
In Stan Lascek they have the league’s star import and a raft of proven quality through their roster mixed with young prospects. The core of players responsible for so much success are playing their last game too, adding to the layers of storyline.
Matt Turner, Julian Smith, Darren Brown, and James Ayling would skate through the dreaded retirement guard of honour come the end, but like Farn, they’d prefer to do it with a trophy.
The game begins with Streatham dominating possession and carving out the most chances. Sonny Phillips in the Chieftains goal makes two-point blank saves from unmarked forwards in the slot and then carries on shining.
The Chieftains stopper keeps his side level for much of the period before a late powerplay is converted by who else but Lascek, who rushes towards the jubilant Chelmsford support after scoring.
The second period is more of the same, with Phillips now in superb form denying two breakaways before Smith extends the lead for Chelmsford on another powerplay and those in black and gold start to dream.
Streatham begin to fade a little as Chelmsford get more of the puck. Frustration begins to set in, but crucially for a team that racked up almost 800 minutes in penalties in their league campaign, tempers are kept.
Reward for this comes courtesy of a late powerplay slotted home from close range by Josh Ealey-Newman. It’s a crucial goal in terms of momentum and means a one goal game heading into the third.
With all sets of fans creating a fantastic atmosphere the stage is set for an exciting finale, however what becomes immediately apparent is that both teams are fatigued.
Mistakes by both sets of players start to become more common and as a result the game opens up. The Chieftains defence, so dogged in the first two periods begins to wobble and soon Streatham are level thanks to Ben Ealey-Newman, who appears unmarked at the top of the circle and fires a slapshot past the stranded Phillips.
Just under ten minutes remain when Danny Ingoldsby converts from the slot to give Streatham the crucial go-ahead goal, before Josh Ealey-Newman extends the lead to 4-2 going top shelf after pouncing on a Chelmsford defensive mistake.
The league champions don’t look back and when the final buzzer sounds, it is for once those fans in red and white on their feet celebrating a Play-Off final instead of those in black and gold opposite.
Chelmsford and fans by Fusional
Before lifting the trophy, Streatham’s players join Chelmsford’s squad forming a guard of honour for their four long serving retirees, all of whom have made an immense contribution to the history of the club and all of whom have enough trophies between them to compensate for a final game loss.
Ahead of them walks Andrew Munroe, who while not a long-time servant of Chelmsford, has had a long and successful career largely in the second tier. One of the few remaining Durham juniors still playing, his departure on crutches is a sad and undeserved end.
As the Chieftains players depart, the celebrations begin on the ice for Streatham in front of their fans, including a less than tone perfect rendition of Sweet Caroline from them all.
The pre-game frowns have left Farn’s brow as he skates off clutching a deserved man of the match award and the Play-Off trophy.
Next week the Londoner’s have it all to do again in a National Championship against Solway Sharks in Coventry, but for now a fourth trophy is in the bag and for Streatham that couldn’t be sweeter.
Contact the author davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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