Chieftains Go Sixy On The Islanders!

As you're know the Chelmsford Chieftains had a dissapointing couple of results last week, losing to the Bracknell Hornets before following that with an 'ok' draw againgst the Streatham Redskins. Last Sunday Dean Birrell's team bounced back and kept the smiles going for their festive fans with a win for them over Christmas.

As always SportTrades own Ice Man Pete Lewis was there and here's his report on the action:

Unlike many encounters with the Cheiftans this game didn't start well and there was not really a chance in the first ten minutes for either side. Simon Wren in the Islanders net though was beaten just after 13 minutes, when a good build play ended in Alex Green setting up Jerry Pavlus who slotted past Wren outside the goalie crease with the first real chance of the game. Chelmsford doubled the lead two minutes from the end of the first period when James Ayling found Darren Brown in space and he slotted home with smartly.

Just two minutes into the second period it was 3-0 when Richie Whiting scored and just over a minute later it was 4 as Danny Hammond (pictured) scored meaning that after 23 minutes on the clock it was staggeringly 4-0 to the Chieftains! Another goal came exactly on the half hour, but this time it was to the Islanders as James Pentecost put the visitors on the scoreboard. There were no further scores in the last period, to the shock of all at the Riverside the Islanders reduced Chieftains lead to 2 two minutes into the half when Steve Maile drove home the puck from close range.

This seemed to wake the Chieftains up and in the final 10 minutes of the game, they sent their great support home happier by scoring 2 goals to reaffirm their dominance of the game. Chelmsfor'd's fifth goal came when Ayling took control of a pass from BT Williams and danced down the ice with the puck and squared it to Brown who slotted home for his second of the night. Minutes later it the sixth goal came as Danny Hammond's wrist shot was too much for Wren as the puck beat his dive into the net.

After the game, a relieved head coach Dean Birrell said “I’m glad we got that win under our belts. We know we’ve had a bad run lately, but that corner should have been turned now. We’ve scored some goals, got 2 points and can now concentrate on the big game next Sunday in Invicta. We’ve played them twice recently and narrowly lost to them and got a draw at their rink, so we know we can match them. There are things from the game that need to be worked on, so the fans can be rest assured we’ll be working hard to get things flowing again for next Sunday”.