CHELMSFORD CHIEFTANS still sit on top of the NIHL Division One South table despite a mixed weekend at Riverside Ice and Leisure.
On Saturday last season's 'wooden-spoonists' Milton Keynes Thunder were the visitors and everyone expected maximum points for the champions.
Chieftains were without the in-form forward Darren Brown and James Ayling, with young Jake Sylvester brought into the side from the Warriors.
But Thunder had upset the form book at both Cardiff and Steatham and with just five minutes left they struck, Edward Knaggs scoring.
A minute later Chieftains were level as young Bailey Chittock scored unassisted to equalise the contest.
It could have been even better for the Chieftains as they thought they had won when the puck beat Thunder netminder Damien King, but it didn't beat the final buzzer and the points were shared.
On Sunday the Chieftains entertained the 'old enemy' London [formerly Romford] Raiders.
Brown and Ayling returned for the Chieftains. The defence was a player light as John Connelly was forced to sit this one out due to an injury picked up the previous evening.
The game started in typical 'local' derby manner and at 10.21 Michael Ranby put Chieftains ahead.
Raiders took advantage of two extra players on the ice, with Jakub Klima scoring a powerplay equaliser at 15.08.
Two minutes into the second period the Chieftains took the lead once again through Chittock.
The Chieftains again went a man down but kept out the Raiders before Martin Piecha scored their third.
The pressure on the Chieftains' defence increased as Czech defenceman Lukas Zatopek had to leave the ice after going head first into the boards. Chieftains again broke away to score another short-handed goal, Brown lifting the puck over Gray for 4-1 Chieftains.
Chieftains' Ryan Giles and Raisers' Ross Wilkinson were given early nights before in the final period Ross Brears finished off a well-worked goal. Turner scored two minutes later, making it 6-1, but Chieftains took their foot off the pedal and were immediately punished as Raider's forward Vaclav Drabek pulled a goal back.
However, the travelling fans were soon quietened as Chittock made it 7-2 at 52.26.
Raiders scored a consolation goal at 53.03, Steve Deacon on target, but it was too little too late and the Chieftains' fans celebrated a fine 7-3 victory.
