CHELMSFORD Chieftains had mixed fortunes at the weekend as they maintained their cup run but lost their unbeaten home record.
The Chieftains lost 4-2 to Wightlink Raiders in NIHL Division One South on Sunday but still have a seven-point cushion over the league rivals snapping at their heels.
Goals from Matt Turner and Juraj Huska put the Chieftains 2-0 up in the first period but the Raiders turned it around in the second and third periods.
The visitors from the Isle of Wight were 3-2 up with four minutes left and Chelmsford took their netminder off as they chased the equaliser.
But the plan backfired as the Raiders found the empty net to score a winner.
Twenty-four hours earlier, Chieftains had continued their unbeaten run in the NIHL Division One South Cup with a 6-2 to victory over London Raiders at Lee Valley.
Danny Hammond is clattered into the boards during the Wightlink defeat
Goals from Turner, Huska, Grant Bartlett, Anthony Leone, Ross Brears and Darren Brown kept the Chieftains clear at the top of the Group B table.
The winner of Group B will meet the runners-up of Group A in the semi-final next month.
This weekend the Chieftains are away at Oxford City Stars in the league, while the NIHL Division Two East tabl- topping Chelmsford Warriors take over the starring role at Riverside.
They take on London Haringey Racers in what is sure to be a tough encounter on Sunday, with a 6.30pm face-off.
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