ICE HOCKEYSlough Jets 3, Wightlink Raiders 8
RAIDERS’ good form in Division 1 of the English National League continued apace on Sunday, coming from behind to comprehensively defeat Slough Jets.
The side made the perfect start with a goal from Richard Facey inside the first minute, continuing his purple patch. But Slough responded well and levelled at 3.55, before taking the lead with 11 minutes played.
This spurred Raiders on and two strikes from Dominic Hopkins, with a goal from Joe Rand sandwiched between, gave Raiders a comfortable first-period advantage.
In the second period, Nathan Taylor grabbed a quick-fire double, forcing Jets to change their netminder, but the scoring spree did not stop for the Island side, as man of the match Hopkins completed his hat-trick and Alex Murray made it 8-2.
Slough shut up shop in the third period, and scored the only goal but by then it was too late, as Raiders had sealed the two points to continue their fight for the title.
Invicta Dynamos 8, Wightlink Raiders 4
On Saturday night, Raiders lost their latest ENL Cup match against an Invicta side who raced into a 5-0 first-period lead.
By the time Raiders started their fightback, Dynamos were already streets ahead.
The Kent team were 7-0 up, while Raiders had seen two goals of their own disallowed, by the early moments of the third period.
Goals from man of the match Steve Gossett began the comeback, with Murray, Rand and Daniel Pye all getting on the scoresheet.
But it was too little, too late, and Raiders’ hopes of getting anything from the cup competition seem slim.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Invicta return to the Island for a league clash, face off at Ryde Arena 6pm, before the Raiders travel to title challengers Romford for a crunch clash on Sunday.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk