SATURDAY 30TH MARCH 2025
Streatham secure a Semi spot.
Match Report by Chris Beal
Streatham RedHawks sealed a place in the NIHL South 1 play off semi-finals. With a 12-3 aggregate win over the Swindon Wildcats 2 at the weekend in the play-off quarter finals.
Winning both games, first a 4-1 win on home ice Saturday before finishing the job on Sunday with an 8-3 win in Swindon.
Despite winning all their games against Swindon the RedHawks have had their struggles breaking down the Wildcats young and talented roster. Ethan Lane however would have no such struggle as he opened the scoring for the RedHawks at 211 on the clock. The RedHawks would throw everything they could at Ben Clarke-Leach in the Wildcats net for the next 14 minutes. But could not find a way by the 18-year-old shot stopper. Then at around 16 minutes the RedHawks would strike twice in quick succession. Danny Ingoldsby scoring at 1639 to make it 2-0 Streatham. Before a minutes later Luke Brittle would net the RedHawks 3rd. To close out the period Streatham 3-0 Swindon Wildcats 2.
Despite heaps of Streatham pressure in the 2nd period, Clarke-Leach would continue to put in the kind of performance worthy of man of the match. Before finally being given some fire support. As at 2509 those in attendance would witness one of those quirky moments, we only seem to see in UK hockey. As father and son combined to get the Wildcats on the board. At 2509 a powerplay chance would see Jan Kostal jr set up his father who would apply the finish to claw one back for the visitors.
A few minutes later tensions in the game would boil over as Ryan Watt and Howe would engage in a heavyweight bout. After Watt had gone digging for a puck around the net.
Streatham would look to extend the lead but despite going close on several occasions the period would end Streatham 3-1 Swindon.
The third period would see Streatham continue to apply pressure to the Wildcats net, but Clarke-Leach continued to do all he could to keep the deficit to 3 goals. Streatham’s pressure would pay off in the end at 45 minutes. As Harvey stead would pounce on a lose puck Infront to shovel in Streatham’s 4th of the game.
Post-game Head coach Paynter was pleased to have secured a 3 goal lead heading into the second leg.
“I’m pleased, I wanted to leave home ice with a win. 3 goals up going into tomorrow we’ll take that I’m happy with that. But ultimately, we’re only halfway there. We know how Swindon play; we know they work hard they like to take away the middle of the ice. And so we tweaked our game plan to work around it. It’s frustrating to have the puck so much. But be unable to find a way to the net. But we found ways tonight, and we know what to prepare for tomorrow in the 2nd leg.”
The following evening Streatham would come away 8-2 winners to secure a place in the semi-finals of the play offs, against Chelmsford Chieftains. Streatham would strike early again, at 110 on the clock. Danny Ingoldsby netting to put the Visitors up 1-0 and 4 ahead on aggregate. Ingoldsby would then net his second of the game on 15 minutes. Sending the RedHawks in to the break up 2-0 on the night and 5 overall.