SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER 2025
Chieftains Strike In Overtime
Match Report by Chris Beal
We’re not putting teams to bed, was the sentiment shared by head coach Ben Paynter in his post-game interview following Streatham’s 3-2 overtime loss to Chelmsford Chieftains on Saturday evening.
A bumper crowd packed out the High Road for a game that promised to be must see hockey and delivered on that in spades.
Chieftains would apply the offensive pressure early on from the face off, but Streatham would eventually find a way to generate offence and test Brandon Stones in the Chieftains net.
A charging penalty against JJ PItchley at 0000 would seemingly hand the Chieftains an opportunity to deliver sustained pressure and a conversion. However, it would be Streatham striking first. As Danny Ingoldsby would break down the wing with Jared Lane in support 2 on 1 against the Chieftains Defence. Lane would connect on the final pass and fire it by Stones at 0000 to make it 1-0 Streatham.
The Chieftains would get back on even terms a minute later at 0000, as a loose puck in front of net would find Ben Beldecos in front of net with an open cage. He wouldn’t miss and tie the game up at 1-1.
Streatham would answer back and retake the lead a minute later. Ethan Lane skating the puck in off a a centre ice face off and firing it past Stones to make it 2-1 Streatham.
The score would stay this way for the rest of the period, despite the RedHawks testing Stones repeatedly but unable to find a way past the Chieftains shot stopper.
The second period would be a chess game between both teams’ defences and goalies. As both sought to close out the other and turn offence into defence. With Stones and Danny Milton both pulling out big stops to keep their respective teams in the game.
Entering the 3rd the game was still Streatham’s with a 1 goal lead. Chieftains would again apply pressure forcing big saves out of Danny Milton. While at the opposite end Streatham would be denied on a pair of half and full break away chances. Before the Chieftains would change the game at 4905 as a puck from a long-range effort would bounce off the glass behind Milton and land back Infront before deflecting into the net. Evening up the game with 10 minutes to go at 2-2.
Nothing could separate the 2 sides in those 10 minutes with both pulling off defensive heroics to deny one another a clear chance.
The clock would wind down on the full 60 minutes and so overtime would be needed to decide the game. Streatham would pepper the Chieftains net with Danny Ingoldsby, Jared Lane, Harvey Stead and Luke Brittle all going close. But in overtime it just takes one mistake to turn offence into a chance for the opponent to decide the game. A series of chances and a miscued pass to Ziggy Beesley would release Grant Bartlett in alone on Danny Milton. Bartlett would bait Milton into a lunge for the puck and slot it around the prone Streatham netminder to complete the win for the visitors 3-2.
Post-game head coach Ben Paynter was not pleased his side had been the better side but not put the game to bed.
“It’s frustrating, we need to start putting teams to bed. I think we were the better team for the most part of the game. We sat back in the 3rd with a 1 goal lead, when we know we can’t sit back against a team like that. And I think it’s a lesson we need to learn. I think we were good defensively. But you just have to look at the goals that were scored. 2nd goal took an odd bounce off the glass up high and somehow ends up in the net. But that’s what you get when you don’t punish teams, we had so many chances and we need to punish teams by converting them.”
Up next for the RedHawks it's another tough test as the Slough Jets head to the High Road, this time in Challenge Cup action. Facing off Sunday 30th November at 18:45pm.
