SUNDAY 26TH JANUARY 2025

Streatham Shut Out Chieftains

Match Report by Chris Beal

Streatham secured a 6-point weekend, with win a 3-1 win away at Romford Buccaneers on Saturday and a shut-out win against the Chelmsford Chieftains on Sunday. 

Battling a flu virus in the camp, leading to a shortened bench the RedHawks put in a battling road performance Saturday to come away with the points in Romford. Aidan Doughty, Ryan Watt and Ben Paynter on the board for the RedHawks.

Sunday the RedHawks found themselves facing the same side that a week before had dumped them out of the Britton Cup, in humiliating fashion. As the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold. And as storm Hermania blew outside on a cold Sunday evening. That will have no doubt been in the minds of the RedHawks players, and head coach Ben Paynter. Who no doubt wanted some kind of statement performance from his team. That would give the club a measure of vengeance, and also put a dent in the Chieftains title hopes, with 1 point separating both sides in 2nd and 3rd place.

The opening period saw the RedHawks dominate for the opening 10 minutes. Chieftains’ keeper Jordan Lawday was kept busy, with the best chances being a missed chance on the doorstep that just need a tap in from Brendan Baird. Before Ryan Watt would find the iron of the goal posts and Ziggy Beesley the chest of Lawday on the rebound attempt. 

At the opposite end the Bartlett brothers Cam and Grant along with Alan Lack would challenge Danny Milton with chances across the offensive zone as the Chieftains found a way into the game. But no one would breach the net and put their team ahead and the period would end 0-0

The second would see the defensive and goal tending duel continue. Both sides defences were putting everything on the line. Again, the Bartlett brothers would go close, as would Alexander Maltsev. But a combination of Danny Milton and the defensive efforts of the Streatham D core prevented any breakthrough. Danny Ingoldsby would have the best of the Streatham chances, managing to find space enough to get a shot away but would only find Lawdays chest. As the period ended with it still tied at 0-0, many in attendance could be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja-vu. 

At the beginning of the 3rd, Streatham had now failed to score in 8 periods of regulation play on home ice. A statistic head coach Ben Paynter would opt to end himself. 

At 45 seconds into the 3rd Period Ethan Lane would draw the Chieftains defence and Jordan Lawday wide of the net, leaving a drop pass to a trailing Paynter who fired the puck into the open net for the 1-0 lead at 4045

The Chieftains would apply pressure attempting to even things up, but the Streatham D and Danny Milton continued to frustrate. Before Danny Ingoldsby would extend the lead two minutes later. At 42 minutes on the clock Ingoldsby would find a gap close distance with Lawday in net and squeeze the puck by the keeper to make it 2-0 Streatham

A series of late penalties would hand Chieftains the hope of getting back in the game. First Brendan Baird at 43 minutes was given a slashing penalty, before a minute later Harvey Stead would be given a 2-minute delay of game penalty. With 2 of its top D men in the box. And a 5 on 3 to defend the odds seemed to favour a Chieftains comeback but Milton would make a series of big saves to hold the score at 2-0

Chieftains hopes of a comeback were seemingly ended at 55 minutes when Callum Wells was ejected from the game for a 5 minute and game misconduct penalty. And while Ryan Watt would be sent to the box for slashing at 58 minutes. The Chieftains still couldn’t find a way through. Head coach Lewis Clifford would roll the dice at 59 minutes and pull Lawday for the extra attacker. However, the plan would backfire as at 5919 Danny Ingoldsby would intercept and pot the puck to wrap up the scoring Streatham 3-0 Chelmsford 

Post-game coach Paynter was pleased at his team bouncing back and making a statement

“I think it was a good game, we obviously had a point to prove against them after the terrible game last week. I’m extremely pleased with how we played defensively, and to score a couple of goals on home ice felt great. We’ve got guys on this roster who are not 100% at the moment and pushing through. And it’s an unbelievable feeling as a coach to have the boys push through the way they did."

Up Next for the RedHawks it’s another top of the table clash as the table topping slough Jets visit on Sunday 2nd February facing off at 18:45pm.