SUNDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER 2025
Shutout Start
Match Report by Chris Beal
REMINDER: Our next home game V Slough Jets on SUNDAY 28th September will face off at the earlier time of 1700.
Streatham kicked off the 25/26 NIHL 1 season with a 2-0 shutout win over the Invicta Dynamos in the Challenge Cup. Not to be confused with the Britton Cup, the Challenge cup is an additional cup competition being contested by Streatham, Invicta, Slough and Chelmsford.
Any game against the men from Medway has a big derby game feel to it, and from the off it certainly had that feel combined with a chippy under current. An early flashpoint would occur when Daniel Gatenby would hit Vanya Antonov and the forwards helmet came off. Many in the stands anticipated a head hit penalty call but were surprised that referee Mr Fraley had assessed Antonov an illegal equipment penalty. Most likely due to the forward attempting to retrieve his helmet instead of instantly clearing the ice.
Brad Windebank in the Dynamos net would find himself under siege for much of the first period. Having to make big save after big save, as Streatham’s highly effective forecheck held the Dynamos offence at bay. Preventing any kind of break out attempts.
Despite heavy pressure on the Mo’s net, it would take Streatham 14 minutes to break the seal on Windebank’s net.
At 1406 a bit of chaos around the net would see Danny Ingoldsby recover a loose puck and back hand it past Windebank to put Streatham in front, 1-0.
Then like London buses having wait 14 minutes for 1 goal a second arrived inside a minute. At 1441 another loose rebound in front of net would find Luke Brittle, who would roof it into the net for Streatham’s 2nd of the game.
The period would wind down with more Streatham pressure on the Dynamos net, but nothing would find a way through.
The 2nd period would be an uneventful 20 mins, as Streatham’s choke hold on the neutral zone meant that the Dynamo’s were limited to the occasional counterattack for chances on net.
The third period would be a livelier affair with a series of penalties being called as the physical play amped up and the underlying tensions simmered over. At 4853 Jordan Gregory would sit for roughing. This would give the Mos a real chance to get on the board. But again, Streatham’s well drilled defence held the line. Regan O’Neil would turn that powerplay into even strength at 4953 as he was sent to the box for roughing as well.
Harrison Lillis would then collect another roughing call at 5309 before Daniel Gatenby would collect a boarding call at 5431, combined with JJ Pitchley being assessed roughing for retaliation on the play.
All these penalties would be killed successfully. And despite a 3rd where Brad Windebank had undergone what can only be described as a sustained bombardment. He had not let anything through. A man of the match performance and surely what could have been a game winner had those early goals not gone by him. However, it would be Jacob Ranson taking home the Man Of The Match Beers. While Jordan Gregory would collect them for the RedHawks.
After the game coach Paynter was pleased with the result. But felt there was still work to do.
"It wasn’t pretty, we controlled large proportions of the possession. 2-0-win, first game of the season we’ll take it. But definitely there are things we need to work on. We had sustained pressure, but ultimately didn’t do enough with that pressure. We need to be a bit more direct and get to the net a bit more and hopefully the goals will come."
Up next on the high Road, we welcome some familiar faces in the Slough Jets this coming Sunday the 28th Of September. In league and Cup game action, with an earlier face off time for this game of 1700. Games V the Jets have been thrillers in recent seasons, so make sure you secure your tickets early by going to.
https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=13797&isFromDashboard=True