(Action between Streatham and Swindon Wildcats in their Division One (Britton) matchup on Sunday evening)
Here is my latest blog on the weekends hockey action in the NIHL South Divisions. Let's start with Division One (Britton) including my first ever trip to Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre in South London on Sunday evening:-
NIHL Division One (Britton) results
Wednesday 25th October
National Cup Group D
Swindon Wildcats 4-3 Telford Tigers
Saturday 28th October
Basingstoke Bison 5-1 Cardiff Fire
Milton Keynes Thunder 5-4 Streatham (PSOW)
National Cup Group C
London Raiders 3-1 Invicta Dynamos
National Cup Group D
Swindon Wildcats 5-2 Bracknell Bees
Autumn Cup Group 1
Peterborough Phantoms 7-3 Sheffield Steeldogs
Sunday 29th October
Invicta Dynamos 1-5 Peterborough Phantoms
Bracknell Bees 4-2 London Raiders
Cardiff Fire 2-12 Basingstoke Bison
Streatham 5-1 Swindon Wildcats
Latest Table
1. Peterborough Phantoms Played 9 Won 9 Pts 18
2. Bracknell Bees Played 9 Won 8 Pts 16
3. Basingstoke Bison Played 7 Won 7 Pts 14
4. Swindon Wildcats Played Won 5 Pts 12
5. Milton Keynes Thunder Played 10 Won 4 Pts 10
6. Invicta Dynamos Played 10 Won 3 Pts 7
7. Streatham Played 9 Won 2 Pts 5
8. London Raiders Played 6 Won 2 Pts 4
9. Cardiff Fire Played 11 Won 0 Pts 0
As I said I made my first ever trip to Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre on Sunday evening to see Streatham take on Swindon Wildcats, here is how it panned out:-
Streatham 5 Swindon Wildcats 1
A Doughty hat-trick plus Colclough heroics in the hosts net helped Streatham to a stunning win over the Wildcats in South London.
Streatham came into this one having not had the best of luck so far in the division, with just one win from eight coming into this fixture. And after their penalty shoot out defeat the day before against Thunder, they probably wondered when their luck would change.
The Wildcats themselves came into this one off to back of two National Cup Group D wins over Telford Tigers and Bracknell Bees and were understandably favourites to defeat Streatham here.
However the hosts had other ideas and stunned the visitors by taking the lead with 7:17 on the clock in the first period when Doughty batted down a point shot from Farn to give the home fans something to celebrate.
But just 57 seconds later Wildcats struck straight back when Jones converted from in front and it was all tied up with 8:14 on the clock but with 2:43 left in the opening period Streatham regained the lead when Doughty snapped a decent effort past Marr who was unsighted by his D man.
And it got better for the home side when after Nell had pinged the bar for Wildcats, the hosts stretched their lead inside the final minute of the period when Webb broke through and smacked one in off the bar.
The opening period ended with Hayes and Zajac dropping gloves and brought to a close a frenetic twenty minutes and saw the hosts with a terrific lead.
Swindon knew they needed a fast start in the second period but they found Colclough in fine form in the hosts net, and it got worse for the visitors when Doughty completed his hat-trick with 6:27 left in the second period when he tipped home a point shot from Baird and the hosts had a three goal cushion.
The period ended with Streatham putting in some heroic defending, especially Siagris, who managed to do it without his stick and slid on all fours to get the puck away. It tippified the hosts work rate and determination and they went into the final period three goals clear.
Into the third period and Colclough had to make two decent stops to prevent Swindon coming back into the contest and they even had to survive a five on three after penalties against Miles and Paynter, however they kept Swindon at bay and maintain that decent lead.
With 2:33 remaining Swindon pulled their keeper in a desperate attempt to have one final assault on getting back into the contest, but it backfired as Hayes fired into the open goal and seal a memorable win for the home side.
Hat-trick hero Doughty was named man of the match for the hosts although Colclough also played a blinder in the net for Streatham but the team certainly put in a shift to stun a shell shocked Wildcats.
Yes the hosts had a bit of luck tonight, but it's luck that has deserted them in the last few weeks, so this was more than deserved. For Swindon it was a humbling experience but one loss doesn't make you a bad side so they will surely come again.
A great evening and an enjoyable game of hockey was had by myself and well done Redhawks!!!!
Here are some photos from my evening at Streatham:-
Right let's round up the remaining action in Division One:-
Peterborough Phantoms had yet another good weekend as they as made it two from two in the Autumn Cup Group 1 with victory over Sheffield Steeldogs before making it nine from nine in the league with victory over Invicta Dynamos on Sunday. Bracknell Bees bounced back from a National Cup loss at Swindon on Saturday to defeat London Raiders and maintain second place whilst Basingstoke Bison are now seven from seven after a weekend double over bottom side Cardiff Fire, with the match in Cardiff finishing 12-2, as Fire have now lost all eleven in the league. Thunder defeated Streatham on penalties after a 4-4 draw in Milton Keynes on Saturday evening in controversial circumstances after Streatham thought they had won it in overtime but saw the goal ruled out, meaning Thunder took their fourth win of the season, and Raiders defeated Dynamos in the National Cup Group C although Streatham are still in charge of that group having won all four games in that competition.
Here are next weekends fixtures in Division One:-
Saturday 4th November
Bracknell Bees vs Cardiff Fire
Basingstoke Bison vs Milton Keynes Thunder
Peterborough Phantoms vs London Raiders
National Cup Group C
Streatham vs Invicta Dynamos
Autumn Cup Group 2
Hull Pirates vs Swindon Wildcats
Sunday 5th November
Invicta Dynamos vs Bracknell Bees
London Raiders vs Milton Keynes Thunder
Cardiff Fire vs Streatham
Swindon Wildcats vs Peterborough Phantoms
National Cup Group D
Telford Tigers vs Basingstoke Bison
Right onto Division Two (Wilkinson) results:-
Saturday 28th October
Solent Devils 2-5 Chelmsford Chieftains
Invicta Mustangs 3-2 Cardiff Fire 2
Bristol Pitbulls 1-2 Guildford
Sunday 29th October
Oxford City Stars 18-1 Basingstoke Buffalo
Swindon Wildcats 2 2-10 Peterborough Phantoms 2
Latest Standings in Division Two
1. Peterborough Phantoms 2 Played 7 Won 7 Pts 14
2. Oxford City Stars Played 7 Won 6 Pts 12
3. Bracknell Hornets Played 5 Won 5 Pts 10
4. Guildford Played 7 Won 5 Pts 10
5. Solent Devils Played 6 Won 4 Pts 9
6. Haringey Huskies Played 7 Won 4 Pts 8
7. Chelmsford Chieftains Played 3 Won 3 Pts 6
8. Invicta Mustangs Played 8 Won 2 Pts 5
9. Cardiff Fire 2 Played 3 Won 2 Pts 4
10. Basingstoke Buffalo Played 7 Won 2 Pts 4
11. Bristol Pitbulls Played 5 Won 1 Pts 2
12. Slough Jets Played 7 Won 1 Pts 2
13. Swindon Wildcats 2 Played 6 Won 0 Pts 0
14. Lee Valley Lions Played 6 Won 0 Pts 0
The top two both enjoyed enormous wins on Sunday evening, Phantoms 2 putting Ten past Wildcats 2 whilst Oxford hit Eighteen at home to Buffalo. This meant Phantoms 2 have now won seven from seven whilst Stars are six from seven so far. Chieftains played their first game since October 8th and showed no rustyness as they defeated a decent Solent Devils team in Gosport to make it three wins from three and hand the Hampshire side their second loss of the season. Invicta Mustangs had an impressive win over Cardiff Fire 2, which was the Welsh sides first loss of the season, and Guildford are into fourth after a win on the road at Bristol Pitbulls, who lose their fourth game in five.
Here are next weekend's Division Two fixtures:-
Saturday 4th November
Lee Valley Lions vs Solent Devils
Slough Jets vs Cardiff Fire 2
Sunday 5th November
Guildford vs Invicta Mustangs
Peterborough Phantoms 2 vs Oxford City Stars
Bristol Pitbulls vs Haringey Huskies
Basingstoke Buffalo vs Slough Jets
Stand out game sees One vs Two in Peterborough as Phantoms 2 host Oxford City Stars, proves to be a decent battle there!!! I'll be back with news of that and other goings on next weekend in my blog next Sunday night.
