Chelmsford Chieftains 5 - London Raiders 3

Chelmsford Chieftains may have already secured the league title with six games still remaining, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to relax and enjoy the moment. With the NIHL Division 1 cup final and the exciting end of season play-offs looming it’s important to keep the momentum going.

Chieftains meet rivals London Raiders in that big semi-final weekend at the end of the month and last Sunday the two sides met at Riverside. An important game for both sides as London needed the points to lift themselves up the table and Chieftains wanted to build on their six game winning streak.

Chieftains put Sonny Phillips in the net and were at full strength including Frizzy the mascot bear who has at last come out of hibernation. 

Chieftains started well and took the lead with just 7:21 on the clock. Juraj Huska placing the puck out of Ex-Chieftains netminder Euan King’s reach with assists from Jake Sylvester and Ollie Baldock. Less than three minutes later it was 2-0, goal hungry Huska once again with the score and Baldock getting his second assist of the night.

London came back and scored at 13:02 Slavomir Buda with the score and exactly 6 minutes later they were level. A Powerplay goal from JJ Pitchley making it even at 2-2 as the first period ended.

Three minutes into the second period and once again the Chieftains were in front. Captain Anthony Leone starting the move that was finished by the Bartlett twins, Grant’s pass finding Cameron who gave King no chance. At 27:34 once the Chieftains fans were celebrating as a goal from Darren Brown restored the two-goal lead for the league champions. The game became end to end as the Raiders looked to reply but the Chieftains defence and Phillips stood firm.

Ten minutes into the final period and the Chieftains found themselves under serious pressure as they found themselves racking up penalty minutes. With seven minutes of the game remaining JJ Pitchley scored his second goal for the visitors pulling the Raiders back within one goal. With the home fans biting their nails as the Raiders pushed for the equaliser up popped the Bartlett twins once more. This time it was Alex Staples that supplied the pass and as before Grant’s pass found Cameron who slide the puck under King to give their side a well deserved 5-3 victory over a London side that deserve credit in what was an excellent night of ice hockey at Riverside.

This weekend the Chieftains are away on both days. But if you want your hockey fix it’s the NIHL Division 2 Champions Chelmsford Warriors that take centre stage at Riverside on Saturday evening. The visitors are Haringey Racers and face off is at 5.40pm.