Banners On The Road – Solent Devils vs Streatham IHC 3/4/24

NIHL 1 South

Solent Devils 2-4 Streatham IHC

Devils: Coleman, Murray

Streatham: Lane, Waller, B. Ealey-Newman, Paynter eng

Appointment viewing: Even when the Bison were playing, I would seek out this fixture. Ever since the Bison played Streatham in the weird post EPL/pre–National Division era, I’d liked how they played. Jeremy Cornish’s coaching gave way to Adam Carr, to Michael Farn and now to Ben Paynter. As the National Division was in its infancy, Streatham and Solent battled it out for the South 1 title and I heard how good the games were. When the chance arises, I will always try to be in Gosport for the fixture.

I’ve had the opportunity this year to have a bit more contact with the Devils as a club, both division 1 and 2 sides but this was the busiest that I’d ever seen Gosport. The game sold out and was bolstered by a healthy contingent of fans from South London. Devils’ general manager, Alison Smart greeted me with a “oh how could I forget about you?” Infamy has its perks, I suppose. Either way, the low ceiling and busy seating made for a real feel that the game imposing onto the ice pad and had a real atmosphere to it.

In front of their own fans, it was not an auspicious start from the hosts. Streatham launched out of the gate and the first couple of shifts were all the visitors dictating the pace of play to the point that Solent didn’t get a clean zone entry for the first 2 minutes. Even with an attempted clearance off the boards taking an odd bounce and sitting on the line behind Danny Milton, that best chance for Solent wasn’t created by them.

It took till an early slashing call to Ryan Watt for the Devils to generate some offence, but they settled into the powerplay well, even if it didn’t end up being productive. However, the Streatham pressure immediately came back on and they were deservedly ahead when Ben Paynter won the attacking zone faceoff back to Jared Lane who snapped a shot past Aaron Taylor.

The Devils had some signs out life after the goal and Callum Perella-Fox decided a dance with JJ Pitchley would spark things for his side. It worked to a point as the Devils pushed their way back into the game. Eventually a bit of a messy play worked out for them. Pressure in the zone from Liam Coleman and Jack Peacock created a loose puck that the two of them initially struggled to work out between their own feet. Peacock stepped away and it allowed the space for Coleman to smash it over Milton’s right shoulder to tie the game in the later stages of the first.

The first break almost came at a bad time for Solent as the goal kickstarted them offensively and forced Streatham to reevaluate how they were approaching the game. The Devils were behind on the shotcount but level on the scoreboard and have shown the Redhawks that they too had claws.

The second started much more evenly. It seemed that the Devils had weathered the initial wave of pressure and now, having realised that they could damage the league leaders, were bringing them into their world. The game became a real war of attrition with nobody being given the space to really create anything.

The issue for the home fans was that Streatham are top for a reason and found ways to adapt. Gutting out a game in the trenches may not be their choice of game but they proved themselves capable to do so. It meant that the game would be low scoring and any mistake would be costly. Just before the halfway point came that mistake. With the puck on the wall in the Solent zone, Ziggy Beasley realised that he was about to be checked, laying it off to whoever was there, he went soaring into the boards. However, Sam Waller decided to hammer the laid off puck on net and as Beasley crashed into the boards, the puck found its way past Taylor into the bottom corner to give Streatham the lead back.

Penalties and chances continued to come but Solent were still within punching distance. They were given a lifeline when the visitors got themselves into penalty trouble. A lack of counting on the part of the Redhawks’ bench followed shortly after by a soft interference call on Sam Waller gave the hosts a 5 on 3 powerplay. Unfortunately for them, Danny Milton decided that now was the time to show why he’s the best netminder in the division as he and the penalty kill unit set about frustrating their counterparts on the powerplay.

The third continued in much the same way as the second had. This game wasn’t about to be some 8-7 gunfight at the OK Corral, this was going to be razor thin margins to decide a winner. The start was very nervy and edgy from both sides which was fitting for the occasion.

Another penalty on Waller saw the Devils put on their worst powerplay of the night, ineffective and disordered, they didn’t really generate much. When the sides returned to 5 on 5, the hosts kept pushing and forced their guests into a couple of icings in short succession. Eventually the dam broke. Steve Osman won the faceoff back to Alex Murray for a blueline drive that hit the twine with just over 10 minutes to play.

The game then went into something akin to a Rocky movie where they were strategically trying to take shots at each other. It was going to be a case of which shot made it through and which one glanced off of the proverbial chin. If anything, the visitors were guilty of not being direct enough with their offence, Taylor seemingly able to throw his glove at all the shots that came his way.

It was going to take a moment of magic or misery and ultimately it was a bit of both. Shortly after Coleman had fired a chance over, a break up ice saw the puck glide towards Kris Nekrosevicius. Under pressure, he lost control of the puck to Ben Ealey-Newman who suddenly had a direct path to goal. The Streatham forward skated in, drew Taylor down and found enough of a gap to slide it past the sprawling netminder with 3.05 to play.

Understandably the Devils started throwing everything at the Redhawks. An interference call to Coleman wouldn’t deter them as Taylor was pulled for the extra skater but eventually the puck was bundled into the empty net by the Streatham player/coach to call the contest to a close.

Whilst I venture neither coach was doing cartwheels over the performance of this game, as a neutral it was a good game of hockey. It wasn’t free flowing, it wasn’t pretty, but it was good. Where last week I saw two sides at the bottom of the league, I saw the best team in the league against one of their rivals who put on a very different game but one that gave good value for money played in front of a sold-out crowd. South 1 hockey doesn’t always get the love it deserves but these last two weeks are a reminder that there’s some real gems to be found. This game could have genuinely gone either way.

The hosts did everything right only to be stung at the end. The way to stop Streatham was to make them play Solent’s game and in the small confines of Gosport. The Devils knew that they’d have a side trying to put them under pressure but that if they could survive it, make it a battle and keep them close then they had a chance. They got so very close.

Solent’s gameplan usually predicates itself on a real team effort but there were some standout performances. Liam Coleman took man of the match off the back of a really pretty goal on top of a variety of good chances. The combination of Steve Osman, Cain Russell and Ryan Sutton were the most dangerous line for the hosts and some good line matching allowed them to exploit their speed and skill. Luke Forsyth and Jack Peacock continued to provide some energy.

One moment cost them and that’s something of a byword for Solent’s season. They are very close, the playoffs are a real chance for them to do some damage if they can just get that moment, the singular point that changes to game, to fall for them where it didn’t on this night and did the following night in Chelmsford, they can win a trophy.

As for Streatham, it’s as I said above. Good teams find a way. Having been in Gosport when Invicta came and tried to play their game and got outsmarted, the quality in Ben Paynter’s side to be able to play outside of their comfort zone, not play their game and still win.

Ziggy Beasley is a perpetual motion machine on and off the puck so his taking of the man of the match wasn’t a huge surprise. He stood out above the rest of the team on this night.

The other player who stood out for me was Tomasz Skokan who has to be in the best defensive players in the division. At even strength shepherding Preston Tombs along or on special teams with Callum Burnett, the only thing Tomasz could do for my money is shoot more.  Danny Milton won’t be happy to concede goals but when Streatham needed him most, during the 5 on 3 and at the death, he showed his class at this level.

It was a character-building performance rather than lots of players being high quality. The close and bitty nature of the game on small ice meant that that Ben Paynter needed to necessarily adjust the game plan. It was risky but you have to back your boys and Ben Ealey-Newman, who hadn’t had the best night of his hockey career, did what he was signed to do when the moment arose.

On another night, this could be a very different piece. Instead, it was two points towards South London and the march back to Coventry continues for Streatham.

Lowlight of the night: No notes

Highlight of the night: The exciting ending

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