Thunder finally reaped the rewards of continued hard work and application through a difficult season, picking up their first NIHL 1S victory against Oxford City Stars at home on Saturday 16th November.

After a close battle on the opening weekend of the season both teams came into the game in search of much needed points. Thunder had been gaining momentum over recent fixtures, coming close against Swindon and left disappointed with a poor performance against Cardiff the week before.

The opening 10 minutes were a tense affair, with both teams seemingly more focused on keeping the other out rather than attacking themselves. However, Thunder’s recent discipline problems continued and provided Oxford with a golden opportunity through a 5 v 3 powerplay. The Stars capitalised perfectly, first opening the scoring when Jack Peacock’s shot from the top of the circles was screened well and found its way past Kieran Hickman in the Thunder net. Then, as Thunder looked to kill off the remaining seconds of the second penalty, Peacock again beat Hickman with a clever wrap-around chance. Hickman, suffering with sickness, came out of the game at this point – replaced in net with 18 year old Kaleb Sheahan.

Thunder’s bench was undeterred by the set-back and despite still struggling to stay out of the penalty box, found a way back into the game late in the first, Josh Hickman with good work low in his own zone kept possession and found Captain Hayden Hagger through centre ice on the breakaway, who calmly beat Parsons over his shoulder to make the score 2-1 going into the break.

Into the second and Thunder came out invigorated. A late hooking penalty on Oxford’s Sam Robinson meant Thunder started the period with the extra man, and took their chance to tie the game early when Sean Reynolds fired past Parsons before the Oxford goalie could get set. The home team found their groove and dominated, on 25 minutes former Milton Keynes’ junior Charlie Conroy scored his first senior goal, bursting between the Stars’ defencemen and finishing well 1v1. As the clock wound down on the second, and with Thunder in control as the game started to get feisty, Xander Robinson took it upon himself to extend the lead. Carrying the puck from his own blue line and beating the defenceman wide before finding the smallest gap over Parson’s near shoulder into the roof of the net. After the goal a scuffle in the corner led to Parsons being ejected from the game, replaced by Kayla Poole. Oxford rallied slightly towards the end of the period and a trip on the blue line allowed a breakaway chance which was well covered by Sheahan who stayed patient and calm to hold position and kick the following rebound into the corner as well.

Thunder nerves were settled somewhat early in the third period as Hickman and Hagger combined again, this time the other way around, to add a fifth goal from the top of the circles. Discipline again gave Oxford a chance to claw their way back into the game with time to spare, a tripping call on Elliott Davies was punished with a smart shot from the blue line by Chris Beckett. Any doubt of Thunder holding out was quashed with 4 minutes to go when good work low in the offensive zone by Reynolds allowed Charles Coney to walk through the slot and shoot high on Poole to record his first goal for Thunder.

With a bumper crowd in to celebrate with them, Thunder held on to win the game 6-3 and put points on the board at last. A strong performance that will bring confidence and reassurance moving into a busy schedule before Christmas. Furthermore it’s worth mentioning MK Storm U19 Will Rees, who made his home senior debut for the club as part of his prospect agreement with Thunder, and more than held his own.

Man of the Match:

Thunder – Charlie Conroy, Oxford – Chris Beckett