JANUARY 6TH STREATHAM VS MILTON KEYNES THUNDER
It looked like a full house at the High Road as The MK Thunder rolled in to town. Both teams had been rested over the festive period. As with their encounter earlier in the season this would be a game of size vs speed. Thunder would be looking to avenge the 4-0 loss they had suffered in MK on December 17th. With a lot of size, this was going to be a physical game. With the likes of Jamie Line and GB U20 player Rio Grinell Parke providing more speed skill and a bit of agitation. This was going to be a tough task. It was made tougher for the Redhawks by the absences of Ben Paynter, who's size could be very useful in this kind of game, also the top line would be missing young stand out Ryan Webb. Forcing coach Cornish to shuffle his lines.
1st Period
It took 22 seconds for the Thunder to light the lamp, and put the Redhawk's on the back foot early. Pinning the Hawks in early off the opening face off, a defensive mix up as Chris Cooke attempted to clear the puck found Ross Bowers free and able to get it to Tom Carlon, who found an on rushing Jamie Line who would snipe in to the top corner to make it 1-0 Thunder at 00:22 in the first.
The Redhawks tried to answer back immediately,on a PP gifted to them after Rio Grinell-Parke was called for holding 20 seconds after the go ahead goal. However the Thunder PK frustrated the Redhakw's powerplay, choking off the shooting lanes. This forced Michael Farn to bomb shots in from the point that would go wide or over the bar. Any rebound Tom Annetts gave up was smothered instantly.
At around the 5 and half minute mark, the physicallity jumped up another notch. off the play there was an incident by the MK bench. Reports from Twitter indicate Rio Grinell-Parke was elbowed. Retaliation followed on the Red Hawks player and a brawl ensued. When it had all settled Brendan Miles and Grant McPherson being singled out for Game Misconducts for fighting. With Milles recieving two additional Match penalties for Abuse Of an Official after his choice words for referee Belfitt.
2 minutes later the Thunder thought they had the lead, as lose puck at the back door was stuffed home, but as the net had moved the referee judged it no goal. At the 13 minute mark the Hawks got on the board as Alex Sampford fed Jacob Ranson who tried to fire it home, but Tom Annetts deflects the puck to a waiting Joe Allen who stuffed it home to make it 1-1.
However the Thunder would answer back immediately. As another defensive mix up would see Jamie Line able to get off a shot on the net, the rebound would fall to Rio Grinell-Parke who would apply the finish to make it 1-2 to the visitors. Minutes later the Mboya almost made it 3-1 to the Thunder ringing one off the post.
The period would end 2-2 however as Alex Whyte was called for boarding the Hawks, however the Hawks would spend 30 seconds playing keep away with the puck. Ryan Watt would feed the puck out of the corner to Michael Farn. Finally with an open lane he would shoot at the net, on the ensuing rebound scramble Aiden Doughty would get the last touch to get it over the line and even things up at 2-2. Following this the Thunder would be assesed a bench minor for abuse of official and so would go on the PK despite a delayed penalty goal.
2nd Period
In the second period, it seemed both teams had shaken off the rink rust of the extended Christmas break. Off the faceoff the Hawks managed to apply pressure during the PP. However as in the first period the Hawks Powerplay could not get anything on target, or stuff home any rebounds around the net. This was followed by a long period of open play in the neutral zone as turn over followed turn over.
At 29:41 the Thunder would take back the lead. A turn over off a broke Ryan Watt play in the MK end would release Harrison Goode, who would shoot, again Rio Grinell Parke was waiting to fire home the rebound and make it 3-2 to the Thunder.
The rest of the period was a frustrating one for the Hawks, underpinned by a powerplay where Jamie Hayes would miss 3 opportunities to tie the game at the back door. It was the story of the second for the Hawks though. A high quantity of rubber was going to the net, but not much was of quality. This was due to the Thunders big D men moving players out, forcing them wide on the zone entry, then winning the war in the corner.
3rd Period
The Redhwak's would start the 3rd on the back foot, Michael Farn had been called at 39:44 for checking to the head. He would serve an additional 10 on this and so the Hawks would be minus their first choice point shooter on the PP.
The Hawks would successfully kill this penalty, and then shortly after would equalize. Despite the thunder having been able to choke off the shooting lanes all night, Jordan Gregory finally found a way to get one through, James Warman had fed the puck to Gregory and his shot took a tip on the way through as Jacob Ranson was given the goal by the officials. 3-3, setting up a tense final 18 minutes
Both sides would spend the last 18 trying to break the deadlock Then a blow to the Hawks as Matt Colclough took a shot right to the face mask, which drew blood. With his night done, it was up to Nate Gregory to step in at 53 minutes and hold the fort. And hold he did turning back everything the Thunder threw at him. Taking us in to overtime.
Overtime
3 on 3 overtime. In my opinion, the best and worst part of hockey. A game that had been a pendulum on a knife edge all evening just became even ore tense as the next goal would decided things. Redhawks would win the opening face off, however it was the Thunder who would get the first shot on net. Gregory was equal to this though.
The game would be decided on a PP though, with Ryan Watt steaming in going around everyone Ross Bowers made the decision the only way to stop him was a hook. This was called and so 3 on 3 became 4 on 3.
A minute later the Red Hawks finally got the PP working as Michael Farn would gather the puck skate in and feed a waiting Aiden Doughty who capped his MOTM performance by roofing it to send the home crowd in to raptures ending it 4-3.
After Game Thoughts
MK deserved possibly more than a point from this game I feel. They came in and played a brilliant road game, and kept the hakws off of theirs for long periods of play. However physcallity and size often dont win you games in OT as its more about the speed and puck movement. However their PK was very well executed and totally choked off the shooting lanes.
Tom Carlon deserved his MOTM, a contsnat threat through out, any time he had the puck it looked like he could create something. Special mention as well must go to Rio Grinell-Parke who chipped in 2 goals and was my pick for MOTM personally.
For the Red Hawks,if it had ended the other way in OT I wouldn't have said it was unfair that they only got 1 point. The PP really struggled when Michael Farn was neutralized by clogged shooting lanes. However missing an energy player like Ryan Webb who's speed is his greatest asset did not help. And being without your two most physical players in Paynter and later on Miles was no help either. However in terms of a show put on for any new fans who live locally that was a hell of a game. And should hopefully pull some of them back for more. One thing, maybe someone needs to explain the OT rule over the PA before the game, as I had to point this out to several fans who got up to leave at the final buzzer, that there was more to come. Also maybe ask fans not to move during open play.
Nate Gregory did great replacing Colclough to help his team pick up the win, Jacob Ranson had a great night proving to be a pest with and without the puck and was involved for 2 of the Hawks key goals. But the MOTM was unquestionably Aidan Doughty's after his 2 goal night.
Next up, following last nights win in Kent over Invicta, its the Cup quarter finals as the Hawks take on the Telford Tigers. This should be an interesting fixture, as a majority of the Tigers teams has never played a competitive game in Streatham before. However Telfords rink is similar in size to Streatham's so both teams could feel at home. Streatham have no league game over the next two weekends. So the Cup will be the sole focus of the squad going in to these 2 games.
Next Game: Sunday 14th V Telford Tigers
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