Youngsters impress in pre-season return to the High Road

Led out by new Captain Ben Paynter and coached for the first time by Michael Farn, the RedHawks introduced a number of new faces to the home crowd including defenceman Sam Waller, the Ealey-Newman brothers Josh and Ben, plus local youngsters Milique Martelly and Harvey Briggs. 

The young Romford side coached by Mark Saunders started with an energy and tenacity that had tested Streatham the night before and showed no sign of diminishing. 

It was the home crowd however who were celebrating after five minutes of play, as debutant Josh Ealey-Newman span round in the slot and fired past Danny Milton in the Romford net. 

Five minutes later it was 2-0 Streatham as last year’s rookie Conner Smith fired home a rebound after good work from Briggs and Beesley. Despite the two goal lead, Streatham then struggled to gain any momentum as penalty trouble hit soon after with Ben Ealey-Newman sent to the box for slashing. 

The second period started in a scrappy fashion with both teams struggling to pull together any flowing hockey. Eight minutes in, a combination between Waller and Ryan Watt found Farn in the centre of the blue line and his shot squirmed through Milton’s legs and into the net for 3-0. 

Two minutes later the rink erupted as Martelly picked up the puck on the blue and picked out the far corner of the net for 4-0, sparking wild celebrations from the youngster and his surrounding team mates. 

Conscious that the home team were about to run riot with the momentum, the Romford bench wisely called a time-out to calm things down. It did the trick. 

The game returned to a scrappy phase with Streatham dominating possession but struggling to break through the ever more congested neutral zone. 

In the dying minutes of the period Vanya Antonov zipped down the right wing and behind the Romford defence only to see his effort saved by Milton and then have his legs hooked away by a nearby defenseman. As the puck bobbled under Antonov’s body a Romford player tried to dig it out hard with his stick prompting a reaction from Brandon Miles who was subsequently ejected on a checking from behind call. 

The third period began with Streatham killing the 5 minute major on Miles and Romford took full advantage with just a minute gone. The lively Vilius Krakauskas teeing up Ewan Hill to score past the unlucky Nate Gregory who had been solid between the pipes all game. 

Once back to full strength Ziggy Beesley made it 5-1 after he fired high past the stricken Milton in a goalmouth scramble. It was to be the final goal of the game but not the last piece of action. 

A clumsy hit from behind on Smith by Alan Lack prompted Josh Ealey-Newman to drop the gloves with experienced Romford man, and then in the dying seconds Streatham defenseman James Warman skated through the neutral zone at speed before nailing youngster Dylan Holicka into orbit, prompting fury from the visiting bench and earning more penalty minutes for both sides. 

The final buzzer ended with Streatham 5-1 victors but certainly in no doubt of the pre-season workout from a talented and youthful Romford side that weren’t fazed at any stage. 

Streatham's man of the match went to the speedy blueliner Martelly, who aside from scoring his goal, moved the puck from the back with confidence and composure throughout, raising eyebrows in the home support on most shifts. Romford man of the match went to Sam Cooper.

Next weekend sees the team travel to Slough Jets on Saturday evening followed by the first league home game in Streatham on Sunday evening at 6.45pm with Romford the visitors again. Tickets available online now.