It’s a far closer game than I expected.

Fourth against eleventh. It’s a testament to that adage though: there are no easy games in South 2.

We let them back in several times with a lapse in concentration. Chelmsford goals two, three, and four are probably all avoidable. Their third especially, coming straight after our fourth, straight from puck drop.

But we grind it out.

Should we score more? Definitely. It has to be said, Aleksei Khokhlov in the Chelmsford net is a huge guy. A mountain of a man. But the chances we create should have been taken, should have been punished.

I think we manage the game well in the first, lose our way in the second, but get it together by the middle of the third. We outscore them in those bookend periods 1-3, 1-2, with Chelmsford taking the second 2-1.

The Warriors endure long spells out of possession but looked to shift it forwards quickly when it broke for them. At 2-3 and 4-5 Chelmsford looked their most dangerous, but each time it’s Haringey who get the next goal to extend their lead and stamp out any ideas of a comeback.

Netminder Joshua Mroczynski joins from the Streatham juniors’ team on a two-way and made the bench for this one.

It’s a slow start.

Marton Szasz gets crowded out along the boards. Courtney grant smacks it from the blue line, straight down the netminders throat.

It’s a better attempt the next time. It’s played out from behind the net and Courtney rips it from the slot and the Huskies are 0-1 up after two- and a-bit minutes from out of nowhere.

Rob Rejna goes on a mazy one coast-to-coast, speed, control, power, but it’s saved from the right. Johan Persson has a shot batted away from the left. He had a great first period I thought and was unlucky not to score off several early attempts.

We grow into it slowly. Ryan McFarlane finds Ruskin whose slapshot is tipped out of bounds. A wicked shot, he generates so much power.

And it’s Ruskin that gets on the scoresheet next. It’s a lovely finish from the right on the powerplay. A wrister that goes across goal, giving the goalie no chance. 0-2 after 10. He tries again moments later from the same spot, but it’s held.

It’s all Haringey. Conner Smith has chances, Johan and Carl Etuazim too. Ryan Payne sends a laser from the point straight into the back of the net, and the Huskies are threatening to pull away. A minute and half later, the Warriors cut the deficit to two with a shot from the point that beats Dylan Philips, making it 1-3.

We finish strong. Marton does ever so well under pressure along the boards to retain possession. I think in general he looks after the puck very well and it’s not often you’ll see him bullied off it.

Carl with an audacious through-the-legs pass across the crease, but Stuart Appleby can’t reach it at the back post. There’s danger at the close, with Dylan rushing out to poke check and clear the danger. First ends 1-3 Huskies.

It’s a faster start to the second, from both sides.

Dylan Philips makes a brilliant save 1-on-1 at the back door to thwart a Chelmsford breakaway. But they make it count seconds later. Dylan makes the initial save but it rebounds into the slot, and the Warriors’ skater has the net at his mercy for a tap-in. 2-3.

Stuart Appleby goes agonisingly close on the backhand from the right, narrowly missing the back post. Carl Etuazim goes close at the crease, but it’s covered.

Courtney delivers a huge hit on the boards. Love it. Stu has a couple of looks held. Pete Toth shoots from the right drawing a stick save. Ruskin finds Stan who goes backhand. Blocked. Lots of Haringey chances. Lots of Haringey pressure.

It’s only his second game, but already Stan Ratcliffe is making a big impression. I’ve no idea what was going on between them, but his battle with Warriors’ forward Nick Green all game was very entertaining. Green got it at every opportunity from the travelling Haringey fans, and to be fair to him he gave it back too.

Ruskin puts it on net from the point and Stan’s there with the tip in front going 5-hole. Loved the goal, loved the celly. But as good as that goal was, it’s a poor, poor showing from the restart. The puck’s dropped and Chelmsford head straight to the net and score, returning it to a one-goal game within seven seconds. Gutting.

Leo De Souza Saoncella’s gloved from the point. Carl feeds Stu who goes backhand, saved. Ruskin tries to catch the netminder out, shooting straight from the bounce on the faceoff. Nice trick. 3-4 at the end of the second and Haringey just in front.

It was great to see Oli Cooper back and fit after being out for a few games, and he helps us start the third in dream fashion.

Moose scores one of the most nonchalant goals you’ll ever come across. Marton does a lot of work for this goal, and he was tireless all game. He tussles and tangles behind the net, keeping the puck, then finds Moose at the backdoor whose one-timer sails straight in. Just the way he walked onto it, the way he didn’t really celebrate, as if it’s just business as usual. Just what we needed. 3-5.

Dylan kicks out and covers at the crease, as Chelmsford look to respond. Stan flips a beautiful lob into the o-zone for Courtney to chase but it’s covered at the crease. Ruskin muscles his way through, sells his man, but can’t find the net 1-on-1.

Chelmsford do respond on the powerplay. A shot from the blue line is saved but dropped, and it’s jammed home at the crease. Fifteen minutes left and only a goal separating them. There’re chances at both ends and it’s starting to open up a bit.

Marton goes through 1-on-1. Johan’s kicked out from the slot. Haringey trying to force it. Rob tries 5-hole from the left but the door slams shut.

We have a flurry of shots and opportunities to finish the game off, and eventually it falls to Stan who whacks it in at the crease for 4-6 and surely, surely that’s it now with 10 left in the game.

Cameron Pow makes a block at the hashmarks, and Dylan snags the airborne puck. Conner has a couple more shots in quick succession. The speed of his hands and stick control when heading to the net is incredible.

Chelmsford call a timeout with three minutes remaining, but to no avail. Haringey win 4-6 on the night, and our first three points on the road this year.

Ruskin collects Player of the Match for Haringey for a classy performance.

We turn our attention to the Eddie Joseph Memorial Cup this Saturday. Running for the train back to London Liverpool Street, I said I thought this represented our most realistic chance of silverware this year, outside of the playoffs, but I’m not sure anyone agreed with me. I certainly think it’s the clearest route to a final of the two cup competitions, on paper at least.

Both Slough games in the league were very close. They’ve had a very strange set of results since those first two games, including a 6-1 loss to Lee Valley. I think we’re better than we were, a lot may depend on which Slough team turn up. Expect the unexpected. See you on Saturday.

Let’s Go Huskies.

Photo: Phil Hutchinson