Ice-hockey: Streatham closing in on fourth straight NIHL 1 South title
Streatham only require two points from their remaining five games to seal a fourth NIHL 1 South title in a row, writes Christopher Beal.
The South Londoners came away with a single point from Saturday’s 3-2 overtime home loss to Slough Jets.
Streatham took a 2-0 lead in the opening period of the game through Ben Ealey-Newman and Ziggy Beesley. JJ Pitchley had his face busted open in a collision with a Jets player, leading to him making a trip to A&E for treatment.
Jets cut the deficit in the second period through Christian Mohr before a controversial leveller.
Many in attendance thought Jack Goodchild’s shot had hit the bar and bounced out. Despite no indication from the goal judge that the puck had gone in referee Blaine Evans gave the goal.
The game went to overtime and Streatham’s Tomasz Skokan fired a shot off the crossbar, before a Jets counterattack saw the division’s leading scorer Jack Goodchild net the winner.
Beesley said: “It was a difficult game. We lost Preston Tombs early on, so that was challenging.
“We tried to shut Slough down but they came through with the goods in the end. When it goes to overtime, anything can happen. We made a good account of ourselves but it just wasn’t good enough”
Streatham head coach Ben Paynter was not totally disappointed to come away with a point.
“We had a good first period and came out all guns blazing – I think we had the job done,” he said.
“Unfortunately we took our foot off the pedal and lost the game because of it, simple as that.
“It wasn’t good enough in the second, we fought back in the third but didn’t do enough. At 2-0 up you should be finishing games. They are a good team who will probably finish second or third.
“They’ve been up there with us all season, so to get a point against them in overtime is not the end of the world. But from our standards we are disappointed to not get the two points.
“The boys showed good composure to keep us in it and dominated in spells. But it just didn’t go in the net for us in the end.”
Redhawks won 6-2 at Invicta Dynamos in the Britton Cup on Sunday. Ryan Watt, Pitchley, Ethan Lane, Ben Ealey-Newman and Luke Brittle (two) scored the goals to maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition.
Streatham’s first chance to seal the title is at home to Romford Buccaneers on Sunday (6.45pm).
PICTURES: MEL O’BRIEN/FUSIONAL
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