Another eventful weekend of ice hockey saw Chelmsford Chieftains set a new club record by winning their 14th successive game as they beat Swindon Chill for the second week running.

They have now won 22 out of 23 matches in a spell that stretches back to the second week in October and in doing so Chieftains have put themselves just three points away from securing the English Premier League Championship with five matches still to play.

Swindon, who were without their suspended player/coach Darcy Cahill and influential defender Ryan Mair, were determined to avenge their Millennium Cup final defeat at the hands of Chieftains and started brightly.

However, Chieftains gradually began to take control without being at their best, and at 8.40 they went ahead.

A good pass out from Craig Britton was picked up by Karl Rogers and his feed left Kevin Conway to power through and beat Ron Bertrand in the Chill goal.

Chieftains were forced back for a spell with the Chill forwards looking sharp and the defence were at full stretch at times to restrict the scoring chances.

Chieftains gained some breathing space at 13.17 when a fine pass down centre ice from Carl Greenhous found birthday-boy Duane Ward and the Canadian was left with only Bertrand to beat which he did in superb style.

Chieftains dominated the remainder of the period which they outshot their visitors 21 to five, and went in at the first interval 2-0 ahead.

The second period was a closer affair and both goalkeepers were in fine form to thwart scoring opportunities.

At 31.13 Chieftains found themselves with a power-play with Marc Garris penalised for roughing.

Not only did they not capitalise but they fell to a short-handed sucker punch as Magnus Josefsson was given too much room as he skated through to deke Simon Smith in the Chieftains'goal at 31.55.

Unable to convert what remained of their own power-play Chieftains found themselves a man down at 35.23 when Shaun McFadyen was penalised for holding.

Just to prove lightning does strike twice Chieftains replied with a short-hander of their own when Ward dispossessed a Chill defender and beat Bertrand with another deke at 35.34 to the delight of a near 800 Riverside crowd.

However, Chieftains could not extend their lead in the period, going in with a 3-1 advantage.

Chieftains had to withstand two Chill power-play phases at the start of the last period, but once they had achieved that they took control of the match.

At 47.26 the game was effectively won as Conway weaved through the defence and although his first shot was parried by Bertrand, the goalkeeper was helpless as Conway followed up to make the score 4-1 to Chieftains.

Just over a minute later it was 5-1 as a speculative high clearance fell to Jamie Randall who shook off the attention of two defenders to send a smart shot low into the goal.

After Billy Price's tireless work behind goal had rescued the puck from the Chill defenders, Randall stole in to squeeze the puck through a tight space at the near post at 52.41.

The game well won, Chieftains took their foot off the pedal to see out the game, but their slackening off allowed Swindon a late consolation goal, which was well taken by Lamonte Polet at 59.21.

The Youngs Brewers man-of-the-match awards went to Chieftains' Jamie Randall for a performance of high industry, while, having faced some 52 shots, Ron Bertrand picked up the award for Swindon.

Chieftains then took the opportunity to parade the Millennium Cup in front of several hundred fans who had waited for the opportunity to heap their applause on this superb team.

This coming weekend sees two highly critical away trips for Chieftains.Tomorrow (Saturday), an inevitable packed house could see the championship decided.

If Chieftains beat the Isle of Wight in the tiny Ryde arena they will win the English Premier League, while a defeat will see the title chase go on for another weekend.

On Sunday. Chieftains visit Invicta Dynamos, whose recent form has been impressive in what should be another cracking match.

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