SIHC v Slough Jets

It took just over a minute for the RedHawks to get everyone on their feet, as Vanya Antonov batted down a Rupe Quiney shot from the point past Matt Smital in the Jets goal to open the scoring.

Three minutes later Antonov doubled his and Streatham’s tally with a smart finish in front of goal after a reverse pass from behind the net by Carr.

Slough responded well with the impressive Sean Norris and Sam Talbot beginning to cause problems for the RedHawks defence with their speed and quick hands. Therefore it was no surprise when Talbot picked up the puck on the left wing and fired across goal into the far corner of Damien King’s net.

Despite this setback Streatham exerted more pressure of their own with the game becoming more open and entertaining to watch. Jordan Gregory was handed a tripping penalty to give the Jets a late powerplay towards the end of the first period, however it was the hosts who lit the lamp shorthanded.

Defenseman Rupe Quiney skated at speed from a deep position, got over the blue line then buried his shot past Smital before wheeling away in front of the Streatham supporters.

If a late goal in the first period was exactly what Player Coach Adam Carr wanted to see, he was smiling even wider at the beginning of the second holding onto a 3-1 lead.

Antonov’s speed and skill was again too much for the Jets rearguard as he jinked his way clear down the right hand side then roofed the puck past Smital in style for his hat trick.

At 4-1 it looked a long road for the Jets but they were handed a big chance after Adam Wood went for Talbot after the Jets forward flattened Antonov along the boards. Wood was ejected on a match penalty and the Jets were handed a five minute powerplay. Thankfully for the home support RedHawks goalie Damien King and the defence coped really well with the pressure and survived without conceding.

The third period began with both sides throwing the body around while referee Belfitt let the game flow.

Danny Ingoldsby made it 5-1 with a smart finish from a Rupe Quiney pass and then Scott Bailey finished a well worked goal involving Ben Paynter for 6-1. By now the home support were enjoying their evening and when Carr held off his marker to get through on goal, his delayed finish flew past Shepherd (who replaced Smital) and effectively ended the game as a contest.

To the Jets credit they kept skating hard, and when Juha Lindgren finally broke King’s resistance, the small travelling support celebrated with gusto.

It was however, the RedHawks who would have the final say as Bailey found Ingoldsby ghosting in from the point and he buried the puck through Shepherd’s five hole for 8-2.

Man of the match went to Rupe Quiney and the RedHawks next game is in Oxford next Sunday against the City Stars.

Scorers: Quiney 1+3, Antonov 3+0, Ingoldsby 2+1, Bailey 1+1, Carr 1+1, Miles 0+2, Farn 0+1,Paynter 0+1. Wood 0+1.

Shots on goal: On Streatham Damien King 31. On Slough Matt Smital 27, on Shepherd 11.