Streatham Redskins 4 Chelmsford Chieftains 7
Joe Johnston was left ruing some controversial refereeing decisions as Streatham Redskins lost their nine game unbeaten run at home to Chelmsford Chieftains.
Despite Michal Oravec’s early strike the Redskins shipped five goals in a row as a mixture of indiscipline and poor refereeing cost them their place as league leaders.
Callum Best and Louis Lockwood pulled goals back for Streatham but Johnston acknowledged that a disastrous opening quarter left them with an ‘uphill battle’.
The Redskins skipper said: “There were some ropey decisions I’m not going to lie. I think some of the decisions in the first period were the reason we lost the game.
“It’s hard to come back from 5-1 down against a team as talented as Chelmsford. I’m not one to blame referees but some of the decisions in the first period were diabolical.”
The Redskins got off to the ideal start with a great Oravec goal from distance in the dying seconds of a power play but Chelmsford were quickly level through James Ayling.
With Steven Fisher (smashing) and Joe Allen (charging) in the penalty box last year’s league champions scored two quick goals through Lukas Zatopek and Ryan Giles.
Redskins’ indiscipline meant just three outfield players were on the ice when Ross Brears and former Redskin Michael Ranby rubbed further salt in their wounds.
Best’s solo effort left the Redskins trailing 5-2 and when Louis Lockwood scrambled the puck over the Chieftain’s line at the start of the second period a comeback looked on the cards.
Joe Allen had a great effort saved by inspirational Chelmsford net minder Adam Long just before Martin Piecha scored a magnificent solo goal which turned the game on its head.
Johnston said: “We were running them really close at 5-3 but we just couldn’t get that fourth goal. The difference between 5-4 and 6-3 is massive.”
Allen scrambled a goal in the second period as Warren Rost’s side struggled to make their dominance count and Cameron Bartlett scored the only goal of the final period as Chelmsford went top.
Redskin of the match Dominic Hopkins said: “I don’t think 7-4 was an accurate reflection. I think when it was five on five we dominated them and made them look ordinary.”
