Sunday 26/11/17
National Cup Group C
With qualification to the next round of the cup sewn up for the Redhawks, the term dead rubber could be given to this game. However as Coach Cornish has said in mid week "this is a team that doesn't take a night off" and with the opposition being The London Raiders, there was the pride of victory in a London derby at stake.
Games between these two teams had been close affairs this season. With the Raiders missing out via the shoot out during their last visit to SW16. Unlike last weeks weakened opposition, the Raiders arrived with a nearly full bench. Only missing Julian Smith and Michael Gray. Once again the Red Hawks would be minus the services of Ryan Watt, his spot being taken by 3rd Generation Redhawk Alec Goldstone.
1st Period
Both teams have been evenly matched this year, and the opening 5 minutes showed this as both sides probed and tested each other defenses. However nothing would give. Raiders net minder Zach Grandy-Smith would turn away repeated ranged Michael Farn efforts and snipes from Andreas Siagris. It was very much run and gun hockey as both sides attempted to match speed and skill with speed and skill. Zonal control was not a thing in this period as the pendulum swung one way then the other in the neutral zone. Olegs Lascenko and Marek Nahlik would combine to generate much of the Raiders offence. However despite gaining the zone, and being allowed to set up, no one could apply the final touch and Matt Colclough was barely tested in any threatening way.
It would be the Redhawk's though who broke the deadlock. Joe Allen working the puck behind the net was able to feed Aiden Doughty, who then found space to skate to the hash marks turn and shoot to fire it home under Smith and it was 1-0 Redhawk's at 7:25 in the 1st(G 19 A 11)
Minutes later the Raiders looked to have a window to get back in the game as James Warman sat for an interference call AT 8:59. But despite the man advantage the Hawks, would find the majority of the offensive pressure as they chose the ultra offensive PK plan. On 3 occasions forcing turn overs at the blue line leading to Ranson,Hayes and Miles all getting 1 on 1's with Smith. Luckilly for the Raiders none found the net.
The Redhawk's offence eventually found a way through though, after sustained pressure from Hayes and Sampford's line, Michael Farn was able to work the puck around to Jamie Hayes. Who found Alex Sampford skating in on support, Sampford potted the puck and it was 2-0 Redhawk's at 15:06(G 7 A 77 A 55) Earlier in the game on a break in Alan Lack and Brendan Miles had almost come to blows. Now possibly seeking to spark something from his team mates Lack challenged Miles off the following face off.
It looked like Lack had gotten the better of his bigger opponent. However when the linesmen jumped in to break things up a bit prematurely the balance of the tilt shifted. Leading to Miles getting the upper hand. Seemingly this did spark the Raiders offence in to life as they began buzzing and crashing the net, working the puck low behind the net. At one point Lascenko found enough space to work down low, and found Turner alone dead center but he could only fire it right at Colclough's chest. The first would end with the Redhaks holding the hardest lead in hockey up by 2.
2nd Period
The Hawks would go in to the second with a choice to make tactically. Go all out and risk conceding or sit back and try to soak up the pressure defending the 2 goals. They chose offence, the second period began with sustained pressure on the Raiders net, but despite the pressure Grandy Smith was equal to everything being thrown at him, and the D were doing a good job killing off the rebounds. While Huska and Nahlik lead the charge when the Raiders were on the offensive. The Redhakws would run in to penalty trouble early in the 2nd though as first Dan Rose was sent to the box for Delay of game, and then James Warman for boarding.
The Raiders would set up for ranged fire on this PP, looking for a rebound and chaos around the net to try and shovel it home. The best chance came when Huska was able to get the puck to Ollie Baldock, with a seemingly wide open back door. But amazingly Colclough manged to get across and close the door on him.
The Raiders would continue to utilize the crash the net approach for the rest of the period, with Alan Lack going close as he rushed down the boards cutting across in to the crease. The best chance the Redhawks would get came at 39 minutes when Joe Allen collected a turn over directly out of the box finding himself in 1 on 1 but unable to convert. And so the second wold end 0-0 with the score still 2-0 to the Hawks
3rd Period
The 3rd period would see Raiders break the shut out in unusual fashion. As Jake Sylvester broke down the win he would be forced wide. Allowing Sean Barry to collect the puck as it came lose, he would attempt a centering pass. Unfortunately for Adam Wood, trying to cover the far side of the net, left open by Colclough, it would bank in off his skate to make it 2-1. This energized the Raiders offence and they began peppering the Hawks net.
Eventually at 51 minutes the Raiders would get a chance to push the advantage and try to get an equalizer as Ben Paynter took a boarding penalty. However far from giving the raiders a chance to pull another one back the Powerplay would gift the Redhawks a return to that 2 goal lead.
Attempting to set up the puck at the blue line, Marek Nahlik would turn the puck over to Andreas Siagris. At first it would seem Siagris was just going to try running down the clock. But the 3 Raiders attempting to steal the puck from the Canadian left Alex Sampford free to skate in 1 on 1 with the puck. Beating Grandy-Smith to make the score 3-1 Redhawks (G 7 A88)
Minutes later it looked like Ryan Webb was going to put the game to bed, skating around everyone on his way to the net, only to lose an edge at the vital final moment. This failure to convert would lead to the Raiders once again clawing one back as Lascenko would intercept an attempted clearance. Crashing the net, with Marek Nahlik crashing in with him. Getting the puck across Colclough's crease to make it 3-2 with 4 minutes on the clock (G 83 A 23)
With minutes to go any hope the Raiders had of a complete come back were ended when John Conolly took a high sticking penalty at 58 minutes. The Redhawks would put the Raiders under sustained pressure trying to kill off the game. And the game would end with a last desperate bid by Nahlik to get the equalizer. First shooting the side netting and then trying to shove the puck home. But it was to no avail and the game ended 3-2 to the Redhwaks.
Post Game thoughts
This was a great hockey game, it had a bit of everything, and was not one sided at all. Man of the match for Raiders went to Callum Burnett. If I am honhest I felt this should have gone to Oleg Lascenko or Marek Nahlik as they were the driving force behind a lot the Raiders best offensive chances.
For the Redhawks, Matt Colclough was very deserving, as he had a solid game in net and realistically but for a freak bounce would have only been down 1 goal on the night. Others of note were Alex Sampford who ran rampant on the offensive for the Hawks. Special mention as well to Ryan Webb who had another strong night, and really deserved a goal.
Next up for the Redhawk's its a 3rd weekend of nothing to do on Saturday. The Hawks will be well rested for the Bracknell Bee's. Sitting 3rd in the table the Bee's will be no push overs, and a returning Frantisek Bakrlik will add more spice to the game. The Redhawk's having turned over Swindon a few weeks ago may fancy their chances in this game, especially with the bees looking to snap a now 6 game losing streak.
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