Thanks again to Andy Shier for sending through latest report for the Wightlink Raiders Ice Hockey team. Ed
The Wightlink Raiders five match winning streak came to an end at the weekend as they went down 3-2 to champions Invicta in Kent.
It was a plucky performance by the Raiders who chased the equaliser right to the final buzzer but the win for the Dynamos was enough to move them level on points with the Raiders at the top of the table.
Invicta started the game strongly with two first period goals, one on the powerplay, but when Bradley Watchorn’s slapshot halved the deficit it was clear the game would go right to the wire.
Invicta then moved 3-1 ahead in the dying seconds of the second period. Nathan Taylor pulled it back to 3-2 early in the third but despite applying pressure in the remaining minutes of the game Invicta held out for the two points.
Back on home turf
On Saturday it was a different story at Ryde Arena as a rampant Raiders took apart third placed Streatham Redskins with an impressive display of slick passing and clinical finishing.
Leading 2-1 going into the second period the game was perfectly poised before the home team ran riot with 6 unanswered goals in 20 minutes before adding a 9th in the final period.
Man of the match
Man of the match Richard Facey scored twice on the night as did Jason Gorrie, Robbie Brown and Nathan Taylor while captain Damon Larter also got on the scoresheet with a rasping shot from the blue line.
Next up for Jeremy Cornish’s men is a ENL Cup game with Romford Raiders this Saturday (13th) at Ryde Arena.
This is an all pay game with face off at 6pm.
On Sunday the Raiders travel to bottom of the table Milton Keynes Thunder who held them to a 3-3 draw on the Island back in September.
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Nicky Craft
