Recap

The Bees took the trip to Romford for the second leg of the Everyone Active Cup. The Bees went into this match with Alan Lack returning to the lineup but found themselves without Adam Rosbottom, James Galazzi, Joe Baird, Will Stead, Dan Rose and Dan Weller-Evans but had the additions of Alex Murray and Rory Edwards. Raiders were without Marco Pascale, Harvey Briggs, Ben Clements, Adam Erskine, Blahoslav Novak and TJ Anderson.

An opening face-off win gave the Bees an early chance from Brendan but the Raiders also had that opportunity from Harry Gulliver but the shot went wide. Jake Sylvester had a rebound chance but Goss shut down the chance for the Raiders and then some great physicality from JJ Pitchley helped the Bees regain possession of the puck. Josh Smith for the Bees received a 2-minute minor for Tripping at 03:07, this led to an early power-play goal for the Raiders at 04:23 from Adam Laishram with assists going to Harry Gulliver and Thomas Relf which then led to the Bee’s penalty being terminated. Juha Lindgren reacted to the Raiders with more good chances and made plays for potential goals for the Bees. Bees go to the corner to fight for the puck but Raiders come out with it and score their second goal by Jake Sylvester with an assist going to Aaron Connolly at 10:20, then 17 seconds later Jake Sylvester gets his second goal of the night at 10:37 with assists going to Harry Gulliver and Adam Laishram. Straight after the Bees called a timeout to collect their thoughts and regroup. The Bees came back with more chances to get their first goal of the night and then Ethan James received 2 minutes slashing penalty at 13:31 while Alan Lack received 2 minutes for Interference. Then 15:53 Ashley Jackson extended the Raiders’ score with their fourth goal of the night and an assist was awarded to Jack Cooper, and again at 17:09 Harry Gulliver makes it 5-0 with an unassisted goal for the Raiders. To see out the period Brendan Walkom at 19:29 found himself with a 2-minute Tripping penalty, the first period finished Raiders 5-0 Bees.

The Bees came into the second-period fighting but the Raiders started with some key chances to extend their lead and force Adam Goss into making some vital saves. At 24:12 Brendan Walkom breaks the Bees’ silence and gets past Ethan James with an unassisted breakaway goal. After this goal, the passion within the Bees gameplay was raring to go but a coming together between Dan Scott and JJ Pitchley leads to Dan receiving 2 minutes for Roughing and JJ found himself with 2 minutes for holding as well as 2 minutes for Roughing timed at 28:24 and Raiders come away from the incident with a power play chance. Then at 29:29 Brendan Walkom received a 2 minute Holding penalty and gave the Raiders a 5-on-3 chance for a while but the Bees penalty kill managed to kill the penalty with flying colours and return to full strength and as soon as they did Juha Lindgren reacted with a scoring opportunity. Raiders found themselves on a penalty kill as Ethan Reid received 2 minutes for Hooking at 32:00 and this led to some good partnership between Dominik Gabaj and Juha Lindgren. After some chances for the Raiders, Mikey Power drops the gloves with Josh Martin and this ends in Josh Martin receiving 2+5 for Elbowing and Fighting as well as Mikey Power also receiving 2+5 for Elbowing and Fighting. The second period ended with the Raiders 5-1 Bees.

The Raiders come away with the opening face-off win and early on Alan Lack received a 2-minute Slashing penalty timed at 42:44 and then once Alan Lack’s penalty was coming to an end the refs call a 5+ game on Stuart Mogg for Checking from behind but even while the Bees were on the penalty kill they still killed the penalty and had some key chances of scoring. Harvey Stead had great defensive plays on the night and then at 55:41, Brendan Walkom gets past Ethan James for the second time on the night with an assist being awarded to Luke Jackson. Another coming together happens between JJ Pitchley, Alan Lack, Callum Wells and Elliot Dewey. This leads to Callum Wells receiving 2+2 for Holding and Fighting and Alan Lack receiving 2 minutes for Elbows. The Bees go onto the power play and immediately pull Adam Goss and Brenda has a close wrap-around chance for him to nearly get a hattrick as well as a chance for Ryan Webb. But not long after Adam Laishram received a 2-minute minor Slashing penalty at 59:24, Ryan Webb took full advantage of this power play opportunity and got the Bee’s third goal at 59:52 with a power play goal with assists going to Josh Smith and Dominik Gabaj. The game finished Raiders 5-3 Bees and 9-6 on aggregate meaning the Raiders take home the Everyone Active Shield.