Wildcats purr, Bees steam and Capri Sun clocks a ban

LONDON, UK – It was perhaps the week that decided the league title race, as Swindon purred into almost total control, while their challengers crumbled one by one.

Done and dusted? (Kat Medcroft)

There were midweek fireworks in Berkshire as the Peterborough Phantoms edged the 2^nd leg of the NIHL Cup Semi Final 3-2 against the Bracknell Bees. Corey McEwan scored the winning goal on the night to add to earlier goals from Martin Susters and James White. For the Bees it was Tyler VanKleef and Zack Milton with the goals.

The night ended in unsavoury scenes with Ben Paynter, Joe Baird, James Galazzi, Brendan Baird and Ryan Watt all picking up major penalties on the final buzzer for the Bees, along with (randomly) the Phantoms equipment manager.

Video footage emerged later of Watt unloading some bombs on a couple of Phantoms players and then on another, shockingly taking a blow to the face himself from a Peterborough fan off the ice. The EIHA wasted little time dishing out the bans with Watt landing the largest, a whopping 21 game suspension.

The scenes must have left the Bees organisation wishing they’d just gritted the road and pavements that caused this fixture to be abandoned back in January, thus avoiding the resulting carnage and suspensions.

Basingstoke Bison forward Liam Morris and MK Thunder’s Rio Grinell-Parke both got a call up for some midweek Elite League action with Manchester Storm and MK Lightning respectively.

Morris the Manc

Morris travelled up to Altrincham to help the Storm beat Dundee Stars 3-2, while Rio had a somewhat shorter trip to Guildford where his Lightning team went down 5-1 to the Flames. This column is always heartened to see players given a shot in the EIHL and by all accounts Morris at least got quite a few shifts.

A new podcast was launched during this column’s fortnight break, as “4000 and counting” released two contrasting pods. The first featured the familiar voices of Haringey’s Alastair Band, Cardiff’s Alan Armour and former Slough Jet Nicky Watt, discussing smashing windows on the Isle of Wight while dropping the F-Bomb on a regular basis.

The second episode took a steep upward trajectory and stunned everyone as it featured an interview with GB and Belfast Giants star Colin Shields, so by that sequencing we await a no holds barred one to one with Sidney Crosby within a month. The pod also features former Streatham and Slough forward Jamie McIlroy so expect legal action to close the whole venture in the near future (hopefully after the Crosby interview).

Follow the lads on Twitter @4000AndCounting

Streatham GM Graham D’Anger gave a wide ranging interview with the South West Londoner in which he revealed that the leagues are likely to return to a similar format as post 2017. This adds fuel to the now well established rumours that there will be a new look second tier to replace the old English Premier League.

The article can be read on page nine of the e-zine and is well worth a look.

Phantoms progress to the final (Kev Slyfield)

Back in Essex, the Raiders had to advise their fans that much like a number of NIHL rinks, no one would be admitted with their own food or drink to games. A familiar outcry followed, with many bemoaning the prices and selection available.

In fairness hockey has been late to the party with these kind of things, as football fans have long been hammered by draconian rules not only for profit, but for safety. Who knows what could happen with a Capri Sun in the wrong hands?!! Confiscate. A Kit Kat? You could have someone’s eye out with that, and don’t even think of bringing a bag of Doritos in… you might let it rain crisps on the players! Hand them all over and buy a Rollover.

Saturday review

Trailing league leaders Swindon by seven points, albeit with three games in hand, the Phantoms iced without both imports, second top Brit scorer McEwan and put their second choice goalie in for the visit of MK Thunder.

Whether forced by injury or deliberate, it was a move punished by the spirited Thunder and their brick wall of a goalie Jordan Lawday as they skated away with a 3-2 overtime win and effectively ended the Phantoms title challenge at a stroke.

Tomas Rubes hit a brace for the Thunder with Martin Susters and Glenn Billing replying, only for Lawday to steal the show in the shoot-out.

The result gave the Thunder their second win in three and underlined what a good job Coach Lewis Clifford and the guys have done sticking to the task this season.

Swindon cemented their pole position at the top with a convincing 6-1 win over the Raiders at the Link Centre.

The Cats were without injured Player-Coach Aaron Nell but grabbed both points thanks to a brace each from Jonas Hoog and Loris Taylor plus lone goals from Sam Bullas and Edgars Bebris. The Raiders consolation came courtesy of Aaron Connolly.

The only other talking point was a toe to toe bout between Raiders’ Mason Webster and Wildcats’ Sam Jones. You can watch it here.

Sunday review

Swindon took a huge step to lifting the league title as they beat Streatham 4-1 in South London. The RedHawks put in a solid performance but went down to goals from Toms Rutkis, Loris Taylor, Floyd Taylor and Sam Bullas. For Streatham it was Adam Carr with the consolation.

The Wildcats title hopes were boosted across the Thames, as the Raiders beat the Bison 3-2 at the Sapphire. Juraj Huska, JJ Pitchley and Sean Barry scored to secure the points for the hosts, with Michal Klejna and Adam Harding replying for the second placed Bison.

Gray stands firm

In Milton Keynes, the depleted Bees overcame the resurgent Thunder 6-4 thanks to a brace from Ivan Antonov and lone goals from Roman Malinik, Tyler Vankleef, Shaun Thompson and Aidan Doughty.

The Thunder replied through Joe Edwards, Tomas Rubes, Jamie Line and Ross Bowers.

The final game of the evening took place in Kent where the Phantoms snapped their mini slump with a 3-1 win over the Dynamos. Glenn Billing, Callum Buglass and James White scored for the Phantoms with Louis Colvin on target for the Mo’s.

Invicta defenseman Arran Strawson used up all the hot water as he took an early shower for a high sticks call.

The results leave Swindon fans on standby to see a Link Centre based team lift a first league title since Swervin Merv Priest, Ken Forshee and the boys lifted the old EPL title in 2001. Can anyone stop them? It doesn’t look likely.