Ice-hockey: Streatham 6-1 winners as perfect start to 2023 continues
Streatham continued the winning start to 2023 with a 6-1 win on Sunday night against Raiders IHC 2, writes Christopher Beal.
Having taken the points the previous weekend in Milton Keynes with an emphatic 12-2 victory, Streatham were able to make it three wins from three games in January.
Streatham applied heavy offensive pressure from the start, trapping the Raiders side in their own defensive end and testing Sonny Phillips in net with multiple close chances.
Tomasz Skokan pinched down from the blue line to collect a pass from Vanya Antonov, and scored with a five-hole wrist shot past Phillips, with Danny Ingoldsby collecting an additional assist on the goal.
Streatham were required to go on the PK at 4:42 as Jared Lane was called for interference. Dan Milton was pressed into action to deny a Steve Dunnage shot taken from the slot, but that chance aside the Redhawks were able to choke off the Raiders offence.
Streatham doubled the lead after 10 minutes. Ryan Watt released Ignotos Ragas and Jared Lane on a two-on-one rush. Ragas cut across from the boards to find a waiting Jared Lane, who buried a one-time wrister to extend the lead.
Streatham continued to pile on the pressure for the rest of the period but Sonny Phillips locked down the Raiders net.
Chances down the other end either flew wide of the mark or were easily scouted by the Streatham netminder Dan Milton.
The RedHawks landed in penalty trouble again as Scott Bailey was called for boarding. This Raiders powerplay was a stronger test with Luca Pascale and Tjay Anderson both coming close to getting the Raiders on the board. Milton and the Streatham penalty kill held firm.
Streatham looked to return to offensive pressure but again they found the combined threats of Luca Pascale, Steve Dunnage, Donald Campbell and Tjay Anderson all testing Milton.
With all this pressure what should have been a golden opportunity to get on the board for the Raiders would go in favour of the RedHawks.
At 32 minutes Ryan Watt was sent to the box for slashing. A turnover in the neutral zone on the following penalty kill saw Vanya Antonov and Danny Ingoldsby pass it back and forth traveling up the ice before Antonov applied the finish to make it 3-0.
Streatham extended the lead to 4-0 after 32 seconds in the third period. Ziggy Beesley found Antonov alone in front, Phillips blocked the shot but Antonov backhanded the rebound to a waiting Danny Ingoldsby, in the slot, who had an empty cage to shoot into.
A minute later the RedHawks added goal number five. Sam Waller had the puck cycled up to him from down low in the zone by Bailey and Paynter. With a screen of bodies in front Phillips was drawn too far across his crease, allowing Waller to direct his shot to the opposite corner from the point.
Raiders broke Milton’s shutout at the 45-minute mark, Pascale clawing one back.
Making a rare appearance as part of his two-way deal with MK Lightning, Millique Martelly went coast to coast at centre ice and finished a 47th-minute move with a wrist shot to make it 6-1.
Head coach Ben Paynter said “We started fast and were dominant early on.
“Romford are a good young team with plenty of skill and a good netminder. We controlled the game well. We looked a little tired due to lack of games lately, that’s something we need to work on. But all in all, we managed the game well, it had peaks and troughs and its tough to maintain momentum through in a game that’s not tight like tonight, and when you go two-up, like we did, it’s all about composure and staying on track.”
On the spread of goalscorers on the night, Paynter said: “It’s all about having three strong lines with threats from everywhere, and we want our first line chipping in as much as our second and third lines. it’s good to be getting back to all lines firing now and putting pucks in the net.”
Streatham will hope that goalscoring touch remains as they welcome the Chelmsford Chieftains to the High Road on Sunday February 5, facing off at 6.45pm.
Photos: Mel O’Brien @Fusional