Ice-hockey: Annetts shuts out Devils as Streatham reach NIHL Cup final

BY DAVID CARR

Streatham player-coach Michael Farn paid tribute to goalie Tom Annetts after the netminder shut out the Solent Devils in both legs of the NIHL Cup semi-final last weekend.

Streatham secured a final spot with a 6-0 aggregate win in two ill-tempered affairs.

“Obviously I’m really pleased we’ve made the final” said Farn, whose side will face Invicta Dynamos over two legs in mid-January.

“We may have outshot the Devils over both games, but we took too many penalties and gave them a number of big powerplay chances over the 120 minutes.

“Tommy and the penalty killers did a great job, stepping up when needed, even if I’d have preferred them not to have needed to.”

Streatham won the first leg 2-0 at Gosport Arena thanks to goals from Farn and Ryan Watt, before taking the second leg 4-0 in South London 24 hours later.

Brandon Miles, Milique Martelly, Scott Bailey and Ben Ealey-Newman got the goals in front of a reduced crowd in SW16, with the government’s mask mandate for indoor venues taking effect on the attendance.

“The lads adapted really well on the reduced sized pad on Gosport,” said Farn. “We knew we had to keep it close down there to give us a better chance on home ice, so I was pleased with how it went.

“Aside from the penalty trouble we played some lovely hockey over both games, and that’s exactly what we’ll need to do if we want to lift silverware this season.”

Streatham are still top of the table despite not playing a league game for more than four weeks due to cup involvement.

The away game at Bristol Pitbulls and home game against Milton Keynes Thunder this weekend have been postponed due to a significant number of Streatham’s players and support staff isolating due to Covid-19.