Chelmsford Chieftains' recent poor away form continued with a dismal 10-4 defeat at the league's smallest ice pad on the Isle of Wight on Saturday.

Chieftains were never really in a game which Raiders needed to win to secure points desperately needed for a play off spot.

After only 32 seconds, a quick Raiders break caught Chieftains napping and Dave Pinchin in the Chieftains' net stood no chance as Joachim Johnsson scored.

Chieftains weathered the early storm but at 7.54 Steve Gannaway's wrist shot eluded Pinchin to make it 2-0.

Chieftains were to pick up a bench minor penalty and, at 9.41, Raiders took advantage of the extra man when coach Peter Nyman hit a blue-liner. Chieftains rallied and at 10.38 Tero Sarkiniemi hit a rasping slap-shot to reduce the arrears.

Raiders increased their lead on 24.46 on another power-play when Johan Jonsson beat Pinchin from the blue line.

Raiders effectively made the game safe at 33.07 when Chieftains could not clear their zone. Dave Standing punished them from close range.

Just under three minutes later (36.05) Jani Saartama made it 6-1, beating Chieftains on a fine stretch play.

The goal signalled Andy Hannah picking up a needless 10 minute penalty for abuse of an official.

Chieftains pulled a goal back at 37.35 when Karl Rogers' and Dave Heavey's good work was finished with a good Jon Cotton backhand.

The goal merely signalled another quick reply by Raiders at 38.49 when a Gannaway slap-shot was deflected past Pinchin. At 7-2 at the second break, Chieftains could only look to keep the score down in the third.

They fared better in the last period and had the better of the play. At 41.59 Brian McLaughlin and Tari Suwari set up Craig Metcalf who beat goalie Craig Wynn.

Two more quick goals from defensive blunders added to Chieftains' woe as first Standing (at 43.57), then Jonsson (at 45.23 on a power-play), made in 9-3.

Raiders made it double figures at 51.27 when Saartama robbed Hannah up-ice and was left with an easy one-on-one goal.

Chieftains scored a consolation goal at 58.20 when, on a power-play, they put together one of only a hand-full flowing move which Cotton put away after good work from Hannah and Heavey.

Jake French picked up the Chieftains' man-of-the-match award for a hard-working performance only a week after his return from a bad injury, but this was a poor Chieftains overall performance on a difficult ice pad.

They will need to improve significantly if they are to fare well in the play-offs which are looming rapidly.

Scorers for Chieftains: Joe Cotton 2+0, Tero Sarkiniemi 1+0, Craig Metcalf 1+0, Dave Heavey 0+2, Karl Rogers 0+1, Tari Suwari 0+1, Brian McLaughlin 0+1, Andy Hannah 0+1.

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