Milton Keynes Lightning beat Romford Raiders 4-2 at Planet Ice Milton Keynes on 26 September, recovering from a 2-1 first-period deficit to take two NIHL National points. Liam Stewart equalised early in the second period, Bradey Johnson put Lightning ahead and Carter Hamill scored his second goal with 43 seconds remaining. Romford had turned an early Lightning lead around through Tjay Anderson and a Barret Kirwin power-play goal, but could not find another reply.
With Jordan Hedley in goal for Milton Keynes Lightning and Cole Ceci in goal for Romford Raiders, Carter Hamill opened the scoring at 07:07, assisted by Liam Stewart and Bradey Johnson. It was an even-strength goal, giving the home side the first lead after Romford had served an early two-minute tripping penalty to Austin Osborn. The Raiders answered at 12:17 when Anderson equalised from Leo Bacallao’s assist. That left the teams level for just over two minutes.
Harry Gulliver received two minutes for hooking at 13:40, and Romford made use of the resulting power play. Kirwin scored at 14:38, again assisted by Bacallao, to put the visitors 2-1 ahead. Bacallao had set up both Raiders goals as they changed the score from 1-0 down to 2-1 up. Lightning then had further penalties to negotiate: Hamill was called for holding at 16:36 and James Griffin for slashing at 16:55, both for two minutes. Romford did not add to their lead, and the score stayed 2-1 at the first interval. Each side had recorded 11 shots on goal in the opening period.
Lightning’s response came 1:34 into the middle period. Stewart scored at 21:34, with Archie Hazeldine and Danny Weight supplying the assists, to bring the game level at 2-2. It was the first goal since Kirwin had put Romford in front, and it meant neither side carried an advantage through the early part of the second period.
At 25:19, Lightning’s Milique Martelly received two minutes for slashing while Romford’s Bacallao received two minutes for holding. Those penalties were assessed at the same time and did not give either side the power play that produced the next goal. Instead, Lightning took the lead at even strength at 30:51. Johnson scored from Hazeldine and Hamill to make it 3-2, completing the home side’s turnaround from their first-period deficit. Hazeldine had assisted on both second-period goals, while Hamill added a contribution to the lead after opening the scoring.
Romford’s Jack Cooper was given two minutes for delay of game at 33:01, but Lightning did not extend their lead during that penalty. Johnson’s goal remained the difference at the second interval. MKL had recorded 13 shots in the period to the Raiders’ seven, and their two goals had changed a one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead.
That narrow margin held for most of the final period. Brandon Ayliffe received a two-minute hooking penalty for Romford at 40:31, but there was no goal during the power play. The Raiders called a timeout at 57:29 with the score still 3-2, leaving the outcome open late in the game. The third-period shot count was 12 for Lightning and 10 for Romford; neither side had scored in those 20 minutes until the closing minute.
Hamill settled it at 59:17, scoring from Johnson and Stewart to make the final score 4-2. His second goal came at even strength, after Lightning had protected their one-goal lead from midway through the second period. Stewart finished with a goal and two assists, and Hamill with two goals and an assist, including the opening and final goals of the win.
Source: Official NIHL National gamesheet.
Scoring summary
MK Lightning: Carter Hamill 2+1, Liam Stewart 1+2, Bradey Johnson 1+1, Archie Hazeldine 0+2, Danny Weight 0+1.
Romford Raiders: Barret Kirwin 1+0, Tjay Anderson 1+0, Leo Bacallao 0+2.
