A Haringey player falls to block a shot by Danny Hughes. Andy Robinson waits near the net. Picture by Robin Crossley.
PICTURE GALLERY
ICE HOCKEY
Wightlink Raiders 9,
Haringey Greyhounds 1
RAIDERS made light work of a short-benched Haringey side on Saturday, which included none other than enigmatic former Raider Norman Pinnington.
In front of a good crowd at Ryde Arena on Saturday, Raiders made the most of the fact the London outfit had travelled with only ten players.
They peppered the Haringey net from start to finish with a wide range of shots, and the Greyhounds goalie should be credited for keeping the score in single figures, particularly in the second period when his team mates rallied well and tried to make a game of it. However, a comfortable victory was assured by the end of the first period, as Raiders cruised into a 4-0 lead, opening their account in the seventh minute.
First on the scoresheet was Andy Robinson, on hand in front of net with a one-time wrist shot, from Alex Murray’s assist. Two mintues later they doubled their account, player-coach Jeremy Cornish finishing with a neat backhand.
Kev Tanner was next in line, scoring 15 minutes in with an easy tap in after a rebounded shot. And, after a brief altercation between Cornish and Pinnington, play resumed with the Raiders’ fourth goal, courtesy of Danny Hughes’ booming slapshot.
Greyhounds had registered just four shots on Toby Cooley. By comparison, the Haringey netminder had faced 29.
The second period featured a brief respite by the Greyhounds and they opened their account eight mintues in, while on the powerplay.
However, their cushion was restored six minutes from the break when Hughes was on hand again for his second goal.
It took until ten minutes into the third period for the Raiders to build on their tally but after Cornish scored his second of the game at 50.26 the floodgates opened once more.
Jus 28 seconds after Cornish had made it 6-1, Stewart Tait scored from Hughes and James Udell.
Their eighth and ninth goals came from Hughes, capping a brilliant night for the captain.
MK Thunder 2, Wightlink Raiders 4
Raiders pulled off another four-point weekend with a good win over the usually tricky MK Thunder.
Lately Thunder have been close to pulling off a shock in the league and the Raiders knew they had to be at the top of their game to ensure they were on the receiving end.
And they got the best possible start when Damon Larter scored on the powerplay with seven minutes left of the first period.
They extended their advantage with another goal in the second period, scored by Cornish and assisted by Tait. And it was 3-0 early in the second period when Murray converted Luke Reynolds’s assist.
With ten minutes remaining, the win was secured when Hughes made it 4-0, and, although two late MK goals reduced the deficit, it was too little, too late.
Tomorrow (Saturday) the Raiders take on Streatham Redskins at Ryde Arena, face off 6pm. They travel to Haringey on Sunday.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk
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