CHELMSFORD Chieftains closed the gap on league leaders Streatham Redskins with back-to-back wins at the weekend.

The Chieftains trail the Redskins by two points in NIHL Division One after beating Oxford City Stars 6-1 at home and then travelling to Solent Devils, where they got a 5-1 victory.

Chelmsford made a great start against the Stars with Matt Turner, Lukas Zatopek and James Ayling on target.

Jake Sylvester made it 4-0 with a fine solo effort and the Chieftains then capitalised on a powerplay with Ayling on target again for a 5-0 first period lead.

Oxford came out fighting and were rewarding when Joe Edwards beat netminder Ben Clements in a one-on-one at the end of the second period.

The visitors continued to battle but Darren Brown restored the five-goal buffer and the game ended 6-1.

Sunday’s game at the Solent Devils was never going to be a classic. The small rink prevents the Chieftains from playing their favoured fast-flowing ice hockey.

So they knew they would be forced to carve out a result and did that with goals from Zatopek, Turner, Ross Brears, Danny Hammond and Grant Bartlett securing the points, with Brian Norcliffe spoiling Chieftains netminder Euan King’s shut-out chance.

This weekend the Chieftains have to travel to Oxford on Saturday before facing Milton Keynes Thunder at Riverside Ice and Leisure on Sunday at 6.30pm.