ICE HOCKEYIT WAS yet another mixed weekend for the Wightlink Raiders, with another home win and away defeat.
The weekend started well enough, a 4-2 win over Slough Jets but lost 3-1 away at a tough Cardiff ENL Devils side on Sunday.
At Ryde Arena, Raiders — featuring new British forward Daniel Murdy, 22 — came from behind to secure victory.
The deadlock wasn’t broken until the tenth minute, when Slough took the lead, but a delayed penalty goal from the in-form Joe Rand levelled affairs four minutes later.
Two goals in the second period, at 25.57 from Richard Facey and at 29.32 from Alex Murray, gave the Raiders breathing space against Jets and, despite the mainlanders narrowing the gap early in the final period, a powerplay goal from Nathan Taylor seven minutes from time secured the points.
Stuart Tait was man of the match.
On Sunday, Raiders had the worst possible start when, with eight minutes on the clock, Cardiff broke away while shorthanded and took the lead.
After a succession of penalties for both teams, Cardiff then took a 2-0 lead. Seconds later, Raiders goalkeeper Liam McAllister incurred another ten-minute penalty for misconduct, after Damon Larter was boarded by a Cardiff player and suffered a cut to his forehead, forcing him out of the game.
A goal from Rand two minutes later, scored on the rebound from Daniel Pye’s blue-line shot, ended a dramatic period of play, but Raiders were unable to level before the break.
After a goalless second period there was all to play for in the final session. Unfortunately, Raiders could not make it count and Cardiff sealed the points with a goal just 80 seconds from the final buzzer.
Man of the match was Taylor.
This weekend the Raiders have a must-win game at home to Romford Raiders, face off tomorrow (Saturday) is at 6pm.