IT WAS heartbreak for the Chelmsford Chieftains as they lost the two-legged final of the South East Trophy over the weekend.
The Riverside Leisure Centre -based side lost 5-3 to Wightlink Raiders in the Isle of Wight before a 2-2 draw back in Essex on Sunday.
"To lose any game, but especially one when there's silverware at stake, is gutting," said player/coach Gary Clarke.
"We really lost it in the third period of the first game. It was just bizarre really, we lost that period 4-1. It's the smallest ice pad around and the puck was flying all about the place and perhaps mentally that got to us."
But there's a chance for instant redemption in the league as the two teams go head-to-head this Sunday in Chelmsford.
"We beat them earlier in the season 11-1 and that gave them something to talk about I'm sure and gave them real motivation, now it's happened to us we have to do the same."
In the first game Tibor Schneider netted twice while Danny Hammond scored once, however mistakes in defence cost the club the lead and they struggled to turn it around and let the Raiders overtake them late in the game and run up a two goal lead.
On to Sunday and it looked like it might be a different outcome as the Chieftains looked to contain the Raiders early on and hit them later in the game when the visitors legs had hopefully gone and the younger and quicker Chelmsford players would be able to capitalise.
Most fans had expected some early action around the nets, but neither side came out all guns blazing and it was a struggle to break down either Ben Clements in the home goal or Matt Colclough at the other end of the ice, but a goal from Corey Watkins against the run of play put the Raiders one up on the night and three up on aggregate before the end of the first period.
It was the same scoreline after another 20 minutes of play as neither side seemed to be breaking the other down to any degree, but the game was coming to life more and more and the final period was looking to be a tense affair.
Just over five minutes into the final session and Julius Sinkovic netted to bring the home side back within two goals with 14 minutes to play and it was all to play for.
The first real flashpoint took place in front of Colclough's net when some afters after a save resulted in Darren Brown getting 2+2 for roughing while Jiri Hanzal of the Raiders sat for just two minutes, despite being the aggressor and Brown not being able to respond at all.
Damon Larter then broke the home side's hearts on 53:46 with another goal against the run of play to make it 2-1 on the night and 7-4 on aggregate.
Then things really heated up and the gloves were doffed as Sinkovic and Pye tussled with Pye taking a 2+2 roughing penalty while Sinkovic took a two minute penalty.
While this was going on Craig Tribe decided he'd take on Chieftains defenceman Alex Green who quite comfortably dispatched him to the ice while having various bits of kit being removed by Green while very few, if any, punches were thrown.
James Ayling gave the Chieftains hope with a game-tying goal, but it wouldn't be enough to kickstart a late charge and the game ended 2-2 without further incident.
