Streatham Redskins headed into last weekend’s London derby knowing that North London rivals Haringey Greyhounds needed at least a point to ease relegation fears.

A larger than normal crowd gathered at the High Road to watch the encounter, which started well for the Redskins. Winger Gennadi Yufit battled down the right hand of the ice before squaring the puck to the on rushing Jay Richards who finished first time past Sam Partington in the Haringey goal.

Both teams struggled on an ice pad which was cutting up badly and there was very little flowing hockey following the Redskins opener. Chris Rasmussen and Kent Johnson both had good chances to score for the Redskins but it was the Greyhounds who levelled with five minutes left in the period. Swiss import Phillipe Mueller persisted behind the net and was allowed time in front to fire the puck into the top corner.

The Redskins came out in the second period a different team playing more fluid hockey and stepping up their physical play. To their credit the Greyhounds responded and the game began to get gradually more violent despite the referee’s best efforts. The crowd responded and with attendance numbers boosted by free kids tickets, the hundreds inside the High Road rink got right behind the South London team. Liam Rasmussen continued his good form with a fine solo effort to give the Redskins the lead and then Louis Lockwood fired home to give the home side a valuable two goal cushion. A massive hit by Greyhound forward Cal Mathison on Richard Hardy sparked a brawl and Lukas Zilak stood up for his team mate by dropping the gloves with Mathison. Zilak got two plus two minutes for roughing however Mathison was ejected for the initial hit and left the ice with blood spilling from his forehead. Tempers flared again moments later when Liam Rasmussen tussled with Dave Richards but both sat minor penalties whilst exchanging pleasantries.

The third period was the Greyhounds last chance to salvage something from the game and they came out hard. Scott Beeson and Norm Pinnington both missed gilt edged chances and they were punished when Kent Johnson scored straight from a face off to give Streatham a 4-1 lead. The Greyhounds didn’t give up and they were rewarded when Scott Beeson pounced on a loose puck in front of goal and scored past Stefan Nubert.

The Greyhounds comeback was shortlived as the Redskins stepped up a gear. Rasmussen got his second of the night and this was quickly followed by an excellent shorthanded goal from Kent Johnson. At 6-2 down the Greyhounds began to up their physical game again and Alastair Band then proceeded to approach the Redskins home bench offering to fight anyone on the team. The Redskins however did not bite and scored their seventh when Perry Richardson cheekily poked the puck in to the net after Ed Koral set him up.

Frustrated at no takers earlier, Band grabbed Jay Richards after a melee behind the Haringey goal but the Streatham youngster got the rough end of the referee’s call as he was adjudged to have made an attempted head butt and was promptly ejected.

A shot from Redskins defence man Dave Carr then squirmed its way through Partington’s pads on to the goal line but when Kent Johnson prodded the puck into the net the referee disallowed it due to Johnson being in the crease.

The Redskins finally made it eight, when Chris Wittenberg backhanded a sublime effort into the top of the net past the stranded Haringey goalie.

The home crowd went up in appreciation as the Redskins celebrated the 8-2 win over their London rivals. Man of the match for the Redskins went to Kent Johnson.