Wightlink Raiders have opened up a five point lead at the top of the ENL after the weekend’s results and go into December looking down at all their rivals in the race for the league championship.
On Saturday the Raiders demolished Milton Keynes Thunder 7-2 and then watched Milton Keynes themselves produce a shock result in beating champions Invicta Dynamos 3-2 just 24 hours later.
Saturday’s game started nervously against a Thunder team who’d shared the spoils in their last trip to Ryde Arena. Jeremy Cornish put the home side ahead early but the lead was short lived when Harrison Goode equalised to tie the game up at 1-1.
Goode was then ejected from the game for his post goal celebration with Steve Gosset also getting an early shower for the home team after seeking retribution from the bench.
As with last week it was the second period when the Raiders really came alive.
Second goal from Cornish
Cornish added a second with goals from Robbie Brown and Niall Bound and a brilliant individual goal from Dom Hopkins giving the home team a 5-1 lead going into the third.
Captain Damon Larter and debutant Richard Bentham then confirmed the win in the final period with Milton Keynes grabbing a late consolation towards the end.
So 19 points from their last 11 games and six straight home wins have put the Raiders into a commanding lead at the top although the three teams behind them all have games in hand. Two away matches now follow for the league leaders.
This Saturday they travel to Wales to face Cardiff with Bristol their opponents on the road the following week. The only home game in December is on the 18th when the league’s basement team Swindon ENL Wildcats travel to the Island. The Raiders then face all three of their big title rivals at home during January.
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Image: © Used with the kind permission of Nicky Craft
