Chelmsford Chieftains inflicted only the second home defeat on Blackburn Hawks on Saturday and in doing so extended their own winning run to five games.

Chieftains, with new signing Brian McLaughlin making his debut, came from 2-1 down to win and put them back in the chasing pack for championship honours.

Chieftains went behind on 8.39 when Andrew Dickson slammed home a simple power-play goal.

Chelmsford were lifted when Andy Hannah scored a superb goal, having beaten three Hawks players before firing the puck high past Hollyhead in the home net..

Chieftains then failed to clear their zone and Dickson once again poached an unopposed goal.

Chieftains started the second period slowly and at 23.09 some sloppy defensive play left Billy Price to give Chad Macleod no chance in the Chieftains goal as Hawks opened a two-goal gap.

The visitors got their game together and on 32.38, strong work by Richard Whiting and Hannah set up Tero Sarkiniemi to net a good goal.

At 36.10 an innocuous Jake French 'lob' from the blue line found its way through a ruck of players past the unsighted Hollyhead.

Chieftains went ahead for the first time on 38.09 when Dave Heavey set up John Cotton to score against his former club.

The third period was nervy for Chieftains and at 43.34, Dickson was left alone to tap the puck in at the post.

Hawks regained the lead when Chieftains fell to a carbon copy goal, scored by Lamonte Polet.

Chieftains had to survive a four minute Hawks' power-play with Heavey serving a 2+2+2 penalty and Hannah's pass to the lurking Sarkiniemi left the Finn to squeeze his shot between Hollyhead's legs to level the scores.

With the game looking set for the third draw between the sides this season Heavey and Karl Rogers set up Cotton to coolly deke Hollyhead on 59.24.

Hawks opted to withdraw their goalie in favour of the extra skater, but were caught out when three Chieftains surged forward, leaving Cotton to complete a deserved hat-trick and Chieftains with a hard earned win.

Chieftains man-of-the-match was named as Andy Hannah.

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