ICE HOCKEY
Wightlink Raiders 1, Romford Raiders 3
WIGHTLINK Raiders suffered a blow to their title hopes in NIHL South Division 1, after they lost their first home game of the season against rivals Romford on Saturday.
The defeat means Raiders have dropped to third, behind Romford and leaders Chelmsford, although Romford have played two more games than the Islanders.
All the goals came in the final 21 minutes of the game, with Romford making the breakthrough just 58 seconds from the end of the second period, as Adam Smith netted from the influential Juraj Huska.
Huska then turned goalscorer at 43.45, to double Romford’s advantage at a vital stage, and although Raiders’ captain Damon Larter narrowed the gap with seven minutes remaining, Huska struck again to earn the Essex side both points. Romford’s netminder, Shane Kemp, was also in inspired form to deny the Raiders on several occasions, with a 97 per cent save average.
Streatham Redskins 0, Wightlink Raiders 6
Raiders returned to cup action on Sunday and returned to winning ways at Streatham.
In a game which had little bearing on the cup outcome, with other teams having already qualified from their group, Raiders gave more ice time to their younger players, including netminder Daniel Weller-Evans, who achieved a great shut out.
Again, like the night before, it took until just before the second-period break for the opening goal to arrive, as Jeremy Cornish netted from Craig Tribe.
In the final period, the goals came thick and fast, with Richard Facey scoring twice, and Nathan Taylor, James Smith and Corey Watkins all adding one.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Raiders host Milton Keynes Thunder in league, face-off 6pm, before travelling to Romford for yet another top-of-the-table battle.
Wightlink Tigers 3, Oxford City Stars 6Wightlink Tigers dropped to third in the NIHL South Division 2 on Sunday, with defeat to fellow challengers Oxford.
In an entertaining game, boosted by a large contingent of noisy away fans, Tigers were always behind in this match.
The trailed 2-1 at the end of the first, Drew Campbell scoring, and despite another goal for Campbell and one for Lewis Tribble, were 4-3 down at the end of the second.
The final period saw Oxford score two unanswered goals.