Raiders concede against the Isle of Wight

Cahill asks fans to calm down

Romford Raiders management have issued a plea for fans to improve their behaviour, after some unsavoury scenes at recent matches at Rom Valley Way.

Raiders are due to host Oxford in a cup match today (Saturday), before visiting Essex rivals Chelmsford for a crucial National League league derby on Sunday.

Team boss Mick Cahill said: “The vast majority are brilliant, but a tiny minority are starting to cross the line.

“Banter is one thing but wholesale abuse and obscenities directed at anybody will not be tolerated in our rink.

“If we have to throw people out, that’s what we will do. But we will eradicate this behaviour before it gets out of hand.”

Raiders suffered back-to-back defeats against the Isle of Wight and Bracknell last weekend, dropping to third in the table, two points behind new leaders Chelmsford with a game in hand.

Cahill said: “Defensively, we were shocking in the first period at the Isle of Wight.

“In the second period, there was a complete turnaround and that 20-minute spell was arguably our best session of hockey all season.

“In the third, with a different bounce of the puck the game could have been ours. We deserved a share of the points but you don’t always get what you deserve.

“Against Bracknell, we only have ourselves to blame. We gave up five soft goals in 20 minutes and Bracknell are a well-coached, energetic bunch who will skate all night.

“They took full advantage of the chances we gave them and although I still thought we would get the game back in the third period, Bracknell defended really well and deserved the standing ovation they got from our fans at the end.

“I’ve certainly had better weekends.”

Raiders will look to snap their three-game losing streak against Division Two Oxford, before a big derby battle with their title challengers at the Riverside Ice Arena tomorrow.

Cahill added: “I don’t actually think we need to change much.

“Being a little less gung-ho going forward would help and a little more recognition that every single team in this league can hurt us if we let them. If we’re winning by two, we don’t necessarily need to win by three.

“Play entertaining hockey for sure, but not by ignoring the overall aim which is to win games and win trophies. I’m certain we have the quality and ability on our roster to get back to winning ways, and quickly.”