The Raiders might only have one game this weekend, but what a cracker of a game it is. We welcome once again the league leading Romford Raiders to the Ice Cube.
The rivalry between the two sides has always been intense and over numerous meetings this season things are coming nicely to boiling point as we enter the home straight towards the playoffs. As anybody who has been to the previous meetings this season it is plain that these two teams just don’t like each other. This will be the sixth meeting of the teams this season and as yet we have yet to record a victory over the Essex Raiders. Bar the first meeting which Romford won 6-1 early in the season, before the Raiders really hit their stride, all the games have been close feisty affairs. Romford are well known for their agitating tactics and Coach Jeremy Cornish seems intent fighting fire with fire in this weekend’s matchup.
‘We will be looking to play a little more physical this Saturday and make sure we keep their top players off the score sheet. The guys are playing some good hockey right now, and after a week of solid training we will be ready when the puck drops on Saturday.’
He said in his web column. We are due a win over Romford but as previous results and their league position shows, this Romford team is a top quality ENL outfit. Coach Danny Marshall has put together a quick, tough & agitating team that has too much firepower for most teams in this division. They have several players that are always worth watching such as Juraj Huska a quality sniper who is probably Joe Rand’s only serious competition as best import in the league. Andrius Kaminskas always causes controversy wherever he goes but nobody can deny that this guy is one tough hombre. There is quality through all the lines in this team. Jason Buckman, JJ McGrath & Tyrone Miller all having experience of playing at a higher level.
However our own Raiders are coming nicely into form at the right time of the year and this is a great opportunity for us to show that we are serious contenders for the playoff title. This a game not to be missed and we need as many as possible in attendance making plenty of noise as Romford will be followed by plenty of their noisy and abrasive fans. There should be a cracking atmosphere in the ice cube for this one. The balance of power could be swinging back our way as in the last meeting Romford needed a controversial last minute equalizer to salvage a 4-4 draw.
This time out I fancy us to come out on top in a close, feisty affair so I will go for a 5-3 home win with probably the last goal being an empty netter.
Whatever the outcome this is a game that should not be missed.
Elsewhere this coming weekend in the ENLS1.
On Saturday in a basement battle the Bracknell Hornets host the bottom team Streatham Redskins. Streatham have shown signs of life of late but the Hornets are improving and I will go for a 5-1 home win in this one.
The other Essex powerhouse in the league, the Chelmsford Chieftains hosts the tough Cardiff ENL Devils. Cardiff don’t seem to travel well and Chelmsford are not second for no reason so a 6-1 victory for the Chieftains here.
On Sunday
Although we don’t have a game there is still plenty happening in the league. There are three very close games in prospect. In the lower reaches of the league Streatham Redskins host the Bristol Pitbulls in a game that could go either way but I will do for a 5-4 Streatham win.
The Slough ENL Jets host the Bracknell Hornets and I fancy the Hornets to complete a rare 4 point weekend with a 4-3 win.
At the top end The Invicta Dynamos welcome the Chelmsford Chieftains and again this will be close but I do think that the away team will have a bit too much for the Dynamos, despite the Mo’s showing some better form of late and I will go for a 5-2 away win.
I will report back on the total inaccuracy of these predictions next week.
Dave
