ICE HOCKEYWightlink Raiders 6, Cardiff ENL Devils 2
DESPITE being out-shot in this English National League Division 1 clash at Ryde Arena, Wightlink Raiders came up trumps to take the points.
In a match strewn with penalties for roughing and misconduct, Raiders scored consistently to put the game beyond their Welsh counterparts.
Wightlink weathered the storm of a four-minute roughing penalty on Steve Gossett early on to take a hold on the game and, while Cardiff sat out another four-minute roughing call, the hosts took full advantage.
In-form Richard Facey, with assists from Conor Pollard and Joe Rand, netted at 13.34 to give Raiders the lead and four minutes later, they doubled their advantage when Rand netted the second.
In the second period, Rand scored his second of the night with a delayed penalty goal and although his effort was cancelled by a Cardiff effort just 12 seconds later, Raiders restored their three-goal cushion through man of the match Gossett.
Cardiff’s Jason Stone got himself into hot water at the end of the period, incurring a two-minute penalty for cross-checking just three seconds from the buzzer. But his protests earned him a ten-minute misconduct for abusing official Rene Ross, and then another ten-minute penalty — thus ejecting him from the game — for another misconduct after the period had finished.
In the third period, Cardiff opened the scoring while on the powerplay but two goals in 23 seconds from the Raiders sealed victory. The first was netted at 46.26 by Dominic Hopkins, before Arron Strawson scored at 46.49.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Raiders travel to Bristol Pitbulls for their only match of the weekend. They return to home action next weekend, December 18, when they host leaders Chelmsford Chieftains.