No bite against Bulldogs

Sat 6th March saw the Statesmens inaugaral game against the Streatham Bulldogs, with a few key plaeyers missing it was always going to be an uphill battle in which was a very enjoyable game (well, everyone enjoyed it except Chris).
The Statesmen started lively and opened the scoring after a minute with a scorcher from John Leslie, only to see the Bulldogs equalise after 4mins and get a 2nd after 7mins. The Bulldogs scored 3 in quick succession on 10mins an 16 with the Statesmen getting a couple back on 17mins, to finish the period 6-3.
The second was more one sided scorewise with the Bulldogs netting 4 to the Statesmens 1 and tired legs and the inability to put the puck in the net took its toll, the 3rd ended 2-0 to the Bulldogs in a more closely fought game for the first half than the scoreline suggested. Everyone enjoyed the game and the Statesmen look forward to the return leg.

WC - Loss v Eagles

Another 'thrilling' encounter with the London Eagles, the Statesmen started off with their intentions set out for the night steaming to a 3-0 lead and totally controlling the play in front of a stunned Polish crowd (they werent so loud then!), only for the Eagles to take a time out and then go about slowing the game and take the wind out of the Statesmen. The tactics worked and a couple of silly penalties and some dubious calls and the period ended 3-2.
Unfortunately the penalties seemed to continue and after one of the Eagles players dropped the gloves after 3mins the game was only really going to go one way, though apparently it was us. With 2 of the Eagles players kicked from the game things seemed to calm down a bit but it all played into the Eagles hands and a couple of very late goals saw the Eagles win 5-4, a game the Statesmen threw away really and it would have been nice to shut up the very partisan Polish 'fans' (to be polite). MOTM James Wood, not really:) Ben Durcan and well deserved.

Old timers

John and Ty reached 200 'official' games with the game against the Met Police, congratulations John.

Win v Met Police

The Statesmen welcomed the Met Police to Ally Pally in the first contest between the 2 teams. With an accident on the North Circular holding up the coach and leading to a few players being called out from the police the game started spritely enough, with the police opening up the scoring in 27 secs from James Paxman (his first of 6 of the night). The Statesmen responded after 2 mins with James's first of 5 from the night and Marcus getting the 2nd (his first of 7 points) the game was very even until 15 mins in with the Statesmen leading 4-3, then when the coach turned up the floodgates opened and the Statesmen finished the period 8-4.
This 2nd period was tied at 3 and the Statesmen finished off the 3rd 3-0, a well fought and enjoyable game and look forward to the rematch. MOTM James (this is just getting silly)

WC - Loss v Spitfire

This was the second meeting of the WC against the London Spitfire, in a closely contested game the Spitfire took the lead after 10mins, then scored 3 goals in 4 mins of the second and 1 near the end of the period to take a 5-0 lead. With some key players missing the Statesmen though the scoreline not reflecting the play just couldnt put the puck in the net till the 3rd and controlled most of the play in that period as well coming close a few times, 5-1 loss. MOTM James Wood (if anyone reads this can you pick someone else ;)

WC- Win v Legion

You'd have to go back to Nov 07 for the last win against the Legion, the Statesmen jumped out to a 4-0 lead in teh first with crazy J leading the way with a brace and Mike and James chipping in a goal apiece, the Statesmen were in control for the first 15mins and looked like they could run away with the game, but tired legs and a loss of concentration led to conceding a couple of goals late on.
The 2nd was marred by the refs whistle and really took the wind out of our sails, with crazy completing his hat trick and less than a minute after the Legion scored their 3rd.
The Statesmen then got back into it in the 3rd with crazy on the scoresheet again for his 4th and Ty answering the Legions goal on 53mins to put the game out of reach. Good game and well done everyone. MOTM James (Im beginning to think bribes are going on here, J - you were robbed;)

WC- Draw v Spitfire

The Statesmen kicked off the Winter Cup on 8th Dec 09 v Spitfire, in what was a fast paced encounter and the lead being shared by the two teams ended in a draw and the Statesmen to ponder the 3 gifted goals, 5-5 a good start to the campaign.