Redskins take a point in the right direction (From Your Local Guardian)

Redskins take a point in the right direction

5:07pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in Local Sports Round-up By David Carr

Streatham Redskins may not have got as many points as they wanted last weekend, but Barry Spours believes the one they did get could prove a huge difference.

English Ice Hockey League South One’s basement club twice let two-goal leads slip, first at fellow relegation candidates Bracknell Hornets on Saturday when they ended up losing 5-4, and then again on Sunday against Bristol Pitbulls, when they managed to escape with a 4-4 draw.

The point puts Redskins, in the one automatic relegation place, now just two-points behind second-bottom Slough Jets, who are in the relegation play-off spot, but eight points behind Milton Keynes Thunder, who are safe in eighth.

With a tough trip to second-placed Chelmsford Chieftains this Sunday, last weekend’s results left head coach Spours with mixed emotions.

“I think we all saw last weekend as the big chance to put some points on the board after a pretty horrible run of fixtures,” he said.

“There was a lot of pressure on the team and I could feel it all week in the run up to the games.

“We started well in both games but lost mental focus at times and we were punished.

“I was delighted, however, that the lads responded after conceding those four goals against Bristol at the start of the third.

“I thought we showed character and determination and come the end of the season that point could be the difference between us staying in this league or not.”

On Saturday, Casimir Madren-Britton and Stevie Balmer gave Streatham the lead and they appeared comfortable.

But they capitulated in the second period and ended it 3-2 down before conceding again at the start of the third.

Liam Rasmussen and Balmer gave false hope as they twice reduced the deficit to one but Bracknell held on.

Against Bristol in Brixton, Redskins utility man Dan Botting engaged in the Valentine’s Day spirit by handing roses to the first 25 women that entered the Brixton Ice Arena.

And the feel-good factor showed in Redskins’ play as Balmer and Jerry Pavlus put them two goals up by the end of the second but it all went wrong at the start of the third.

They conceded three goals in five minutes and were 4-2 down with less than three minutes left but strikes from Balmer and Warren Rost rescued what could be a valuable point at the death.