IT was a mixed weekend for the Chelmsford Chieftains.
On Saturday the ice hockey side made the trip to Lee Valley, the temporary home of Romford, now London (formerly Romford) Raiders.
Chieftains needed to bounce back from the previous week's defeat at the hands of Invicta Dynamos and they responded in style.
A four-goal haul from Czech Martin Piecha, a double from Darren Brown and further goals from Michael Ranby and Jamey Ayling secured an 8-3 win, closing the gap on Invicta to just one point with two games in hand.
On Sunday, Chieftains were at Riverside for the final game of 2014. Facing them were the Raiders for the second time over the weekend, but this time it was Isle of Wight-based Wightlink Raiders.
Chieftains made a dream start and Piecha was on target once more as Chieftains found themselves ahead with just 1:34 on the clock.
Chieftains looked to build on their lead but, as normal, Wightlink player/coach Jeremy Cornish had his defence well-drilled and the Chieftains had to be satisfied with a slender 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.
In the second period Wightlink came out firing on all cylinders and were level at 21:27, Richard Facey the scorer.
This lifted the visitors and only some solid stops from Euan King in the Chieftains net prevented them from getting the go-ahead goal and the period ended all square at 1-1.
Both teams had their chances in the final period, but both failed to take those opportunities as the game wound down and the points were shared.
Wightlink would be happier with the point than the Chieftains as, once again, Invicta Dynamos took maximum points, meaning that Chieftains end 2015 in second place, two points behind Dynamos with two games in hand.
Next weekend Chieftains travel to Wightlink to face the Raiders once again on Saturday.
On Sunday, Swindon Wildcats from the Premier League are the visitors to Riverside as the Chieftains play their last game in the English Challenge Cup. Face-off is at 6.30pm.
