Swindon Wildcats Vs Romford Raiders 17th October 2009

Swindon Wildcats 5 Romford Raiders 3 (2-1 : 1-1 : 2-1)

Romford once again pushed Swindon close, before falling to a 5-3 defeat on Saturday night. Darren Cotton and Adam Copland were still missing for Romford.

Romford got off to the best start in the game, as they were on top for the 1st 5 minutes. Euan King in the Raiders net was barely tested, whilst at the other end, Dallas Costanzo was unable to react to a nice pass from new signing Mikko Silvennoinen. Romford were still on top when Swindon broke quickly up the ice, and Sam Bullas set up Raimonds Danilics for a simple close range finish, at 8.51. This was the boost the home side needed and they started to dominate the game. Lee Richardson made it 2-0, at 15.56, when he forced the puck under King. The first penalty of the night, was called at 18.44, when Aaron Nell was called for slashing, and Romford made it count, to make the score 2-1, at the first interval. Costanzo picked up the puck on the left, and when he tried to centre the puck for Dean Tonks, is deflected off Joe Baird, and into the net, at 19.49.

Nell found himself in the bin again at the start of the second period, this time for high sticks, and Romford maintained their 100% powerplay record, to tie the game. It took just 6 seconds for the goal to come, as Joe Allen saw his shot saved, but Costanzo was quickest to the rebound, and lifted it into the top corner. Romford tried to push forward and get the go-ahead goal, but were thwarted by Woolhouse. This was to prove costly, as the home side re-gained the lead just before the half way point. Danilics was again involved, as he fed the puck in front, and Jan Krajicek was there to blast the puck through King's pads and into the net. Romford had another powerplay chance, when Dylan Row was called for hooking, at 32.42, but this time they were unable to make it count. Jon Sitko took the Raiders first penalty of the night, when he was called for holding the stick, and he was quickly joined by Costanzo, for high sticks. Despite being 2 men short for over a minute, Romford killed off the powerplay, and were only 1 goal behind going into the final period.

Again Swindon fell foul of referee Dave Goodwin early in the period, as this time Krajicek was called for tripping after just 53 seconds, and once again Romford made it count. Frankie Harvey sent in a shot from the left, and when Woolhouse gave up a big rebound, Allen was perfectly placed to convert, at 42.31. Despite this goal Romford were starting to look tired, and Swindon were looking like the most likely team to score the next goal. King was stopping everything that Swindon could throw at him, but finally the home side did get the goal ahead goal. Again it was Richardson and Danilics who combined, and the Latvian was again presented with a simple chance, which he converted from the edge of the crease, at 54.11. A huge hit by Sitko on Krajicek saw the former Raiders defenceman helped from the ice, and Romford used this to get back on top. Despite the pressure on Woolhouse, they were unable to score again, and King was pulled with a minute to go. The move did not pay off, as Danilics blocked a shot, fed Richardson, and he skated away to fire into the open goal, at 59.28.

Man of the match for Romford went to Danny Marshall, with Krajicek the Swindon choice.