SUNDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2025
Streatham Open Door To Cup Final
Match Report by Chris Beal
The RedHawks booked their place in the Britton Cup final, with a 3-1 win on the High Road before a 6-0 shutout in Swindon over the weekend.
The Wildcats 2 team has been something of a banana skin for teams in the division this season. Skilled and well drilled they have given Streatham a scare or two in games between the two.
A bumper Saturday night crowed, boosted by the club’s involvement with the release of the newest Heated Rivalry book over the days before the game, filled the High Road.
Streatham would dominate the possession and offensive play in the opening phases, of the game. Forcing a series of big saves out of Ben Clarke-Leach in the Wildcats 2 net. It would take half the period before Streatham would find a breakthrough
At 835 Jay Warren of the Wildcats would be sent to the box for a delay of game penalty. The RedHawks would make use of the extra space and convert 30 seconds later. At 902, as Ben Paynter would connect on the rebound of Dylan Dix’s point shot to make t 1-0 Streatham.
A minute later Streatham would further extend the lead, Danny Ingoldsby would feed a pass to Jared Lane who would find Clarke Leach down on the ice, Lane would cross the front of net and roof the puck over Clarke-Leaches outstretched glove hand. Putting the hosts up 2-0
The second period would see the Wildcats get on the board early, at 2221 Haydn Lee’s long stretch pass from the Wildcats zone would find a waiting Jan Kostal. Kostal alone in the high slot area would turn and fire a slap shot past the glove of Brett Shepherd to bring the Wildcats within 1 goal of the hosts.
Streatham would look to restore the 2-goal lead, but it would take until 33 minutes for Streatham to find another goal. A delayed penalty call would see Streatham gain the man advantage and make use of it passing the puck around looking for spaces as the Wildcats forecheckers looked to close down the puck carriers. Dylan Dix and Ryan Watt would complete a series of passes allowing Luke Brittle to skate into the slot and fire it by Clarke Leach to extend the lead back to 2 goals, at Streatham 3-1 Swindon
The 3rd period would be uneventful in the goal column, as Clarke Leah pulled off a series of big saves to deny the Streatham offence a 4th goal. Possibly the most notable moment of the 3rd aside from the heroics of the Swindon netminder, was when Roman Cathcart delivered a body check to Ben Nethersell so hard it threw open the rink door they’d impacted, with the moment going viral online later.
The following evening the sides would resume the tie, with Streatham heading into the game leading 3-1. The RedHawks would take the game 6-0 on the night and the tie overall 9-1, booking a place in the final against the Slough Jets
Post-game head coach Ben Paynter was pleased with the overall performance of his side.
“I’ll take the 2-goal lead, always happy to come away from the first leg with a lead. I think we controlled the game, but it won’t be an easy task in Swindon. They’re tough to play against. But I’m happy with how we managed our emotions and didn’t get impatient, we controlled the puck well, we looked after the puck and made smart decisions. With a goalie of Clarke-Leach’s ability its always going to be difficult. But the possession we had and the way we played I was pleased with.”
Streatham will now face the Slough Jets in the Cup Final, with the games set to take place over the weekend of the 21st and 22nd February. Details on those game will be published as soon as the club has them. Up next for the RedHawks we welcome the Cardiff Fire to the High Road facing off at 1730 on Saturday 24th January.
