Romford Buccaneers coach looking for response in Oxford test

The two sides meet at Romford’s Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre on Saturday (5.15pm), after a close encounter in the university city last weekend.

Stars came out on top after a penalty shoot-out, but Buccaneers did not come away empty-handed after the National League Division One South match finished in a 3-3 draw.

And Buckman was pleased to earn some reward with an understrength side.

“I was very happy with a point away at Oxford,” he said.

“I was missing six main guys through a combination of injury, suspensions and work commitments, so to go and compete with five of the 14 guys being under-18 and come away with a point was pleasing.”

Travis Penny put the home side ahead inside three minutes, but Sam Robinson beat Petr Cech – the former Chelsea, Arsenal and Czech Republic goalkeeper – to level less than 90 seconds later.

And although Penny restored Oxford’s lead midway through the first period, Buccaneers got back on terms for a second time just 17 seconds later thanks to Ewan Hill.

A penalty against Elliot Dervish was successfully killed off but Buccs then failed to capitalise on three powerplay opportunities of their own as the scoreline remained unchanged until midway through the middle session.

Danny Williams gave Stars their third lead of the night, but a bench penalty against Oxford for having too many men on the ice allowed Hill to square matters while the visitors enjoyed another advantage.

Neither side could find a winner in the third period or during overtime and so it went to penalty shots, with Brynley Capps and Hill beating 41-year-old Cech.

But after seeing Buccs goalie Nik Romahs save their first two attempts, Oxford converted on the next three to claim the extra point.

“Nik was between the pipes and it’s never easy being a back-up goalie then having the responsibility to perform when thrown into the deep end. But he played really well,” added Buckman.

“We go into this Saturday’s home game against Oxford with a full roster with the hope of reversing the result from the weekend, followed by the Essex derby in Chelmsford on Sunday.”