Ice-hockey: Streatham officially lift NIHSL1 trophy after victory over Oxford City Stars
Streatham celebrated their NIHLS1 title victory on home ice following a 7-4 win over Oxford City Stars on Saturday, writes David Carr.
The South Londoners clinched the championship the previous weekend against Solent Devils but were only officially presented with their medals and trophy after the clash with the Stars.
Player-coach Michael Farn drafted in another Streatham teenager to the squad with Aston Lacey joining fellow junior team-mate Stan Ratcliffe and established youngsters Milique Martelly and Conner Smith.
Oxford took the lead through Theo Bundock with just two minutes on the clock.
Streatham captain Ben Paynter equalised from a rebound almost straight from the restart.
Farn continued to roll the lines with the Streatham youngsters getting plenty of ice time. Scott Bailey bagged his first of the night after 12 minutes. Just before the end of the first period he got his second of the evening after good work from Martelly and Vanya Antonov.
Former Streatham favourite Jakub Klima went close with a couple of breakaways in the second period before Stars captain Joe Edwards scored his first of the night.
But the hosts’ quality was soon evident again as Ben Ealey-Newman deflected a Farn point shot into the net to extend the lead to 4-2. A minute later Antonov found Matt Croyle’s five hole from close range. Farn slotted home to make it 6-2 before the break.
Oxford continued to push in the third and got their rewards as Joe Edwards scored two almost identical goals to seal his hat trick. Both goals were breakaways from a long pass through the middle that caught the Streatham defence by surprise and rightly infuriated netminder Tom Annetts.
Streatham’s Scott Bailey sealed his own hat- trick.
“Obviously you never want to lift a trophy on the back of a loss, particularly with another big crowd in the building,” admitted Farn.
“We weren’t at our best and we gave away far too many turnovers but I also appreciate that after the highs of last weekend, it was always going to be harder to come out all guns blazing now we’ve wrapped up the title.”
Streatham travel to Solent Devils tomorrow before hosting MK Thunder on Sunday.
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