Pre Game
The Redhawks came in to this game off the back of a roller coaster weekend. 4 points gained, after 2 dramatic shoot out comebacks. The Phantoms arrived having been undefeated for 13 games in all competitions, looking to extend that win streak.
1st Period
The Redhawks would then go agonizingly close early on, as Webb Roberts and Carr would generate a chance after a crash on the net. Marr would deflect the puck up in to the air and would see Roberts take a swing at batting it home but Marr made the save.
Goal scoring chances however were few and far between at this phase of the game. Both sides were executing a high forecheck at the blue line. Forcing their opponnent out wide to the boards, meaning no one could get a shot away. However eventually Padelek and Robson would get through and force a save out of King. This would then be followed by Stepanek and Susters go close with a blast and follow up wrap around attempt
Going back the other way, the Redhawks would find themselves unable to gain any zone entry repeatedly being repelled at the blue line. Tom Soar would eventually find a way through out dangling everyone but his shot would be deflected by Marr who would save Farns attempt on the rebound.
The Redhawks would get an early chance to put its highly effective powerplay to use as Rob Ferrara would be called for tripping Alex Roberts who was steaming in from the point, seemingly destined to score. Farn and Quiney would pound the Phantoms net with shots from the point, while Roberts and Carr would try for tip ins. The best chance would be as the penalty was killed, Roberts would find himself in alone but the puck would be covered by Marr
The Phantoms would take the lead at 15:47 after Ben Russell took a slashing penalty. The Hawks would manage to keep the Phantoms at bay for about 40 seconds before James Ferrara would link up with Billing to supply Susters who would deliver the finishing touch to make it 1-0 Phantoms
The Phantoms would try to make it 2 as McEwen and Stepanek would move freely on the puck but King would make the save to keep the score down. Going the other way, Roberts then Russell would fire off shots, however a rebound would fall to Weldon who would break for a chance. His chance would be denied, and there would be some afters with Farn and Weldon which would see both sit for the rest of the period
2nd Period
The Redhawks would win the opening face off, and go on the early offensive with a shot by Warman bobbling off of Marr. Roberts would attempt to bury the lose puck but it flew wide. McEwen and Robson would try to create a play off the boards going the other way but the puck would be cleared.
Ziggy Beesley would find himself with a golden oppourtnity to level things up, after poke checking and out pacing James Ferrara. Breaking in alone on Marr he would fire the puck wide of the net. The game would enter a frantic phase with play going back and forth, with the Redhawks best chance coming from Farn attempting to squeeze the puck between Marrs pads and the post after Beesley had created chaos around the net. The puck seemed to be heading goal ward only to be cleared off the line at the last second. The Phantoms would take the play the other way and execute a perfect tic tac toe play as McEwen Pollard and Stepanek combined to make it 2-0 at 24:29
Ranson would attempt to pull the Redhawks back in the game in alone, however the Phantoms would continue to pile the pressure on as at 26:49 Corey McEwen would intercept the puck and race away catching the Redhawks off guard and race down wing. Angling a shot through the crease he would see it deflect in off the inside of Kings pad to make it 3-0
Following this, the Redhawks called a time out to try and steady the ship. Up till this point the Redhawks had been failing to get consistent offensive play going. At the beginning of the next shift the Redhawks began to play more aggressively putting the body in more.
However a neutral zone turn over would release Padelek. He would feed it in to a waiting Ferrara who set up a waiting Susters who would fire it home to make it 4-0
Nothing the Redhawks would try during all this would work. Every Redhawks forward push would be turned over or repelled at the blue line as the Phantoms parked the bus. However a cal against Susters for slashing at 30:34 would give them a window to try and get back in the game. However the power play would fail to get any offence on net, seeing cross crease attempt after cross crease attempt become turn overs to be defended. Off the kill Padelek and Susters would get a chance but King was able to make the save.
At this point the Phantoms just seemed happy to retain the possession, and every Redhawks push would be easily defended. The frustrations of the game would set in for Michael Farn who would see himself ejected for butt ending a Phantoms player. With a 4 goal lead and a major penalty the Phantoms looked to be going through the motions with no real urgency to score. The period would close out 4 on 4 though as Padelek would take a hooking minor at 39:35
3rd Period
The Redhawks would look to put in some early pressure during the minute or so they had of 4 on 4 before reverting back to defending what remained of Farns major. Roberts and Jaimeson would look to capitalize on the little extra space 4 on 4 afforded, creating chaos around the net while Quinney tried to take Farns place as the lead howitzer at the point.
However the 4 on 4 would expire, which would see the Phantoms begin pushing the Hawks back again as they had the man advantage. Susters and Ferrara would look to score another on the doorstep. But King would make the pad save to deny them. This was followed by Susters and Norton trapping the Redhawks in their own end firing in repeated attempts
The Redhawks were being choked off by the Phantoms at this point. Still unable to get the puck up ice, they were totally trapped and unable to clear the puck. A failed clearance attempt at 45:49 would end up on the stick of Corey McEwen who would lay it up to Stepanek. He would make the final pass to Susters on the doorstep who would slot it home to make the score 5-0 Phantoms
The Redhawks would try to return fire still after this, an ice length pass would release Andreas Siagris who in with space and time on the puck would uncharacteristically fire wide. The inability to get past the neutral zone would see the Redhawks punished one more time by the Phantoms at 49:13 as a turnover would see them break up ice, and make a series of passing moves that made the Redhawks look like they were standing still as Long and McEwen set up Susters who would apply the finish to seal his hat-trick and make it 6-0
The Redhawks would continue to push, with 10 minute left though however unlikely the comeback could be it was still possible. Ranson would go looking to make this happen after harassing Norton for the puck and setting up Adam Wood who would be denied 3 times on rebounds by Marr. Siagris would then try to generate an opportunity yet despite bodies and chaos around the net no one can force it in
However the shut out would be broken with 41 seconds remaining. Siagris would skate in unopposed. Marr would go prone looking to cover the puck however Siagris would cross crease the puck the Carr who would pot the puck under Marr to salvage some pride for the Redhawks and make it 6-1
The game would wind down from there and end with a win to the visitors
Post Game
A night to forget for the Streatham Redhawks. Outplayed on their own ice by a well drilled and in form Phantoms team. The Phantoms came in and played the perfect road game, choking off all the ways the Redhawks like to play hockey on their own ice.Something that has to be applauded, and off the back of this performance they certainly could be about to make the title race a three way dance instead of a 2 horse race. For the Redhawks it was a night where nothing went right, and everything that could go wrong did, indicative of this was goal 3 when it banked in off the inside of Damien Kings leg. Losing the leadership and abilities of Michael Farn in the second half to what many in the arena felt was a questionable call after some of the antics let go by referee Stephenson hamstrung any chance of a comeback. Personally I didn't see the butt end so can't say if I thought it was or wasn't.
Jeremy Cornish will however be glad the team bounced back the next day against Invicta, hopefully this means we will see a bounce back performance on home ice this coming Sunday against the Bison.
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