Streatham started off 2013 with a tough 7-1 loss in Essex to the high flying Chelmsford Chiefta
ins.
Without the suspended Shaun Smith, Streatham still managed to ice a full squad boosted by new Slovakian forward Michal Oravec whose ITC cleared earlier in the week.
Chelmsford started the stronger of the two teams with Streatham goalie Will Sanderson having to make early saves from Julius Sinkovic and Gary Clarke as the visitors struggled to get any momentum. With five minutes gone Chelmsford deservedly took the lead as Ross Brears fed the puck to Danny Hammond and he scored from close range.
A minute later, a moment of fortune allowed Grant Bartlett to make it 2-0 to Chelmsford following an uncharacteristic error from Sanderson.
The four man officiating system, being trialled this season by the EIHA had much to do with the rest of the period’s action or lack of it as the Redskins ended killing no less than twelve minutes in penalties.
The Redskins shorthanded units battled superbly to keep the score at 2-0 at the end of the first.
Streatham started the second period much stronger and started to carve out plenty of opportunities of their own. Jakub Klima saw his breakaway saved by Clements in the Chelmsford goal and then some rare powerplay action for Streatham allowed Dom Hopkins a number of shots from the point that were either saved by Clements or deflected away by Chieftains sticks.
It was good pressure from Streatham however their lack of cutting edge was to be punished with six minutes remaining in the period as an under pressure Sinkovic somehow managed to thread a pass through to Michael Ranby on the back post and he tapped the puck home unmarked.
The third period started badly for Streatham as they conceded within the first two minutes as Hammond combined with Brears again to score after a Redskins attack broke down at the other end of the ice and then three minutes later a shot from the point from Tibor Schneider flew through a crowd of players and under Sanderson to make it 5-0.
Streatham finally got the goal they deserved with ten minutes to go when a looping slapshot by Russ Stevens was diverted into the net by Jakub Klima.
Sadly it was not the final goal of the game and shortly afterwards Schneider drifted into the Redskins zone behind the net and then scored a wrap-around goal to make it 6-1 and then with four minutes left, a mix up in the Redskins defence allowed Brears to pass the puck across to James Ayling in front of net and he showed good composure to score and make it a 7-1 win.
Jakub Klima was awarded man of the match for the Redskins.
