Wightlink Raiders 5-2 Romford Raiders
ENLS1
Planet Ice, Ryde,Isle of Wight
11/02/2012
The Wightlink Raiders kept their winning streak alive with a hard earned win in bad a tempered game against the league leading Romford Raiders. With the playoffs looming ever closer this game against a team that we have so far failed to beat this season absolutely fell into the must win category. Happily Wightlink produced one of their best, most disciplined performances of the season to date and Romford left a well beaten side. Coach Jeremy Cornish sat out the last match of his ban and although his toughness was missed on this occasion he must be delighted that his team never reacted to the constant provocation coming from the visitors.
However the game started badly for the home team. Romford quickly gave up a penalty and as the home team pressed for an early goal on the power play we were caught on the breakaway for Smith to give Romford an early lead with a shorthanded goal. However Wightlink were not going to be outdone and quickly equalised from a Dominic Hopkins blueline slapshot. Romford wobbled in the face of some quality play and Wightlink scored two quick goals midway through the period to establish a lead that Romford would never seriously threaten. Steve Gosset and Richard Facey getting on the score sheet within 30 seconds of each other. There was no further scoring in this period but the game was becoming increasingly fractious as Romford started to resort to underhand tactics, the away teams tempers were not improved as they celebrated a goal only to have it ruled out as the puck had hit the post and not entered the net.
The second period was a real battle, hockey at times taking second place as Romford looked for a way to knock Wightlink off their stride. Joe Rand was a particular target and whilst on occasion we gave as good as we received the discipline that we showed in the face of some very severe provocation probably went a long way to securing the victory. Ex Wightlink player JJ McGrath stayed unpunished after throwing a punch at the Wightlink bench and how Billy Phillips escaped censure for using the butt end of his stick to spear Joe Rand in his crown jewels right under the nose of the ref is beggars belief. Joe Rand answered Romford in the right way by scoring the only goal of the period with a quality finish.
In the third period Wightlink seemed happy to contain Romford to see out the win. This plan was dented 4 minutes into the period when Miller pulled one back. For the first time on the night Romford started to play hockey as we know they can and actually started to threaten the Wightlink goal. Liam McAllister playing on an injured ankle, which was clearly troubling him, was called upon to make several top class saves to keep the lead at two goals. There was one further flashpoint in the game. Joe Rand landed a hard check on his fellow import Juraj Huska which left the Romford player face down on the ice and needing treatment. Richard Facey scored his second of the night with 15 seconds remaining after Romford had pulled their keeper to secure the points.
This was a game that delivered all that it promised. A hugely important win that puts down a marker for the playoffs, we had come close to beating Romford earlier in the season and it was vital that we did so before the playoffs came around. This Wightlink team is still improving as the season goes on and all the other contenders will now know that Wightlink are a team that you want to avoid in the playoffs.
The man of the match award for Wightlink went to Liam McAllister for his one legged heroics while AJ Smith bagged the award for the visitors. Defenseman Dan Pye had to be taken to hospital after the game and is suffering from concussion like symptoms. Hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Roll on next week.
Dave Logan
Stats
0.27 Rom PEN J Smith 2 for slashing
1.22 Wightlink 0-1 Romford – SHG Adam Smith, Turner
4.32 Rom PEN J Smith 2 for high sticks
4.37 Wightlink 1-1 Romford – PPG Hopkins, Rand
6.43 Rom PEN J Smith 2 for hooking
10.38 Wightlink 2-1 Romford – Gosset, Murray, Gannaway
10.55 Rom PEN Phillips 2 for slashing
11.03 Wightlink 3-1 Romford – PPG Facey, Larter, Rand
12.04 Wight PEN Bound 2 for roughing
12.04 Rom PEN Adam Smith 2 for roughing
14.55 Wight PEN Taylor 2 for holding the stick
18.19 Rom PEN Kaminskas 2 for holding
28.09 Wight PEN Gannaway 2 for hooking
29.22 Rom PEN Phillips 2 for tripping
32.40 Wight PEN Rand 2 for slashing
32.40 Rom PEN Phillips 2 for slashing
35.28 Wightlink 4-1 Romford – Rand, Facey
44.22 Wightlink 4-2 Romford – Miller, Turner, Kaminskas
50.47 Wight PEN bench 2 for icing infringement
53.22 Wight PEN Rounding 2 for hooking
58.10 Wight PEN Murray 2 for hooking
59.45 Wightlink 5-2 Romford – SHG (ENG) Facey, Rand
Shots on goal
On Michael Gray 22/10/5 = 37
On Liam McAllister 11/17/18 = 46
Officials
Rene Ross and Stephen Matthews
