Bailey bags hat trick in Oxford win

Streatham celebrated their league title win on home ice, following a 7-4 win over Oxford City Stars on the High Road.

Player Coach Michael Farn drafted in another Streatham teenager to the match squad with Aston Lacey joining fellow junior team mate Stan Ratcliffe and established youngsters Milique Martelly and Conner Smith.

The visiting Oxford side arrived off the back of a home win over MK Thunder the week before, and started brightly, taking the lead through Theo Bundock with just two minutes on the clock.

The noisy visiting fans within the packed rink had only just finished celebrating when Streatham Captain Ben Paynter equalised from a rebound almost straight from the restart.

Farn continued to roll the lines with the Streatham youngsters getting plenty of ice time, and on twelve minutes Scott Bailey bagged his first of the night, converting past Croyle in the Stars net. Just before the end of the first period he got his second of the evening after good work from Martelly and Vanya Antonov.

The second period continued in a similar vein to the first, with Streatham enjoying plenty of possession, but with Oxford looking dangerous on the counter attack. Former Streatham favourite Jakub Klima with a couple of breakaways went close, before Stars captain Joe Edwards scored his first of the night seven minutes from the restart.

The quality from the hosts was soon evident again however and Ben Ealey-Newman duly deflected a Michael Farn point shot into the net to extend the lead again at 4-2. A minute later Antonov found Croyle's five hole from close range for 5-2 and then Farn slotted home himself  to make it 6-2 before the break.

Oxford continued to push in the third and got their rewards as Joe Edwards scored two almost identical goals to seal his hat trick and give the visiting fans something to think about. Both goals were breakways from a long pass through the middle that caught the Streatham defence by surprise and rightly infuriated netminder Tom Annetts.

Despite the efforts from the visiting side, it was the hosts that had the final cheer, as Scott Bailey sealed his own hat trick and had the High Road crowd on their feet one last time.

Post game the Streatham squad were presented with their league winners medals and then paraded a third trophy of the year around the rink to  the joy of the home fans.

Streatham now travel to Solent Devils on Saturday before hosting MK Thunder on Sunday on the High Road. Tickets are available online now HERE.