Everyone Active Raiders captain seeking maximum weekend haul

Raiders visit Telford Tigers on Saturday, before hosting bottom club Bristol Pitbulls at Romford's Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre on Sunday (5.15pm).

And with only nine games remaining in the regular season, every game is crucial in the race for a play-off place.

"This weekend we face Telford and Bristol, both of which will be tough games," said Connolly.

"But at this point of the season we really need to be taking full points."

Raiders experienced mixed fortunes last weekend as an understrength team suffered a 10-4 defeat in Hull on Saturday.

First-choice goalie Ethan James did not make the trip due to illness, with Michael Gray coming under fire and beaten three times inside nine minutes on his return to the crease.

And although Tjay Anderson replied for Raiders, the hosts maintained that momentum to move 8-1 up in the middle session.

Connolly, Adam Laishram and Brandon Ayliffe netted third-period goals but they were little consolation for Sean Easton's men.

"Hull is always a tough place to go, but we just didn't turn up to play," added Connolly.

"Our compete levels were not high enough, and the result showed that."

Raiders welcomed James back for the visit of Solway Sharks on Sunday, their charity awareness game in support of Sycamore Trust UK, and saw John Dunbar hit a post before Anderson opened the scoring with a precise finish.

Swedish forward Jesper Eriksson then struck twice in quick succession towards the end of the middle period, after some good passing on the powerplay and a strong face-off win by George Norcliffe.

And although the visitors replied 18 seconds into the final period, Anderson restored the three-goal cushion with a composed finish soon after.

Solway answered on a powerplay, but then fell into penalty trouble and saw Connolly tip home and Laishram net during a spell of 5-on-3.

Anderson teed up Laishram to make it 7-2, with a late powerplay goal little consolation for Sharks.

"It was a really mixed weekend for us," said Connolly.

"Sunday was a different story. We came to play and got a very good result in what was a vital game for the play-off push."

Raiders remain in seventh place ahead of Bees on the head-to-head record between the two sides, with Solway now four points adrift having played one game more.

And although Connolly was pleased to end a six-game goalscoring drought, while moving to within three points of the 300 mark (158 goals, 139 assists) in his Raiders career, he admitted Sunday's success was the most important thing.

"Yes it felt nice to get back on the scoresheet, but it's even better when we get the win," he said.

Remaining fixtures

TELFORD (46-45) - March 9 RAIDERS; March 10 Sheffield; March 16 Peterborough; March 17 SOLWAY; March 23 Solway; March 24 HULL; March 30 Bristol; March 31 BRISTOL.

RAIDERS (45-41) - March 9 Telford; March 10 BRISTOL; March 15 Bees; March 16 BRISTOL; March 17 PETERBOROUGH; March 23 BEES; March 24 Peterborough; March 30 Swindon; March 31 MK LIGHTNING.

BEES (45-41) - March 9 MK Lightning; March 10 MK LIGHTNING; March 15 RAIDERS; March 17 Leeds; March 23 Raiders; March 24 SOLWAY; March 30 PETERBOROUGH; March 31 Sheffield.

SOLWAY (46-37) - March 9 PETERBOROUGH; March 10 Peterborough; March 16 BEES; March 17 Telford; March 23 TELFORD; March 24 Bees; March 29 Leeds; March 30 HULL.

*Romford Buccaneers gave newly crowned Division One South champions Streatham an early fright on their return to action.

Megas Kanys fired Jason Buckman's side in front after five minutes, but the lead lasted little more than two minutes.

The visitors netted twice in nine seconds later in the opening period to move 3-1 up, but Bradley Taylor replied after the restart.

Another quickfire double towards the end of the middle session made it 5-2, but Tyrone Wells answered early in the final period.

Streatham had the last word, though, to seal a 6-3 win and Buccaneers will look for better when they host Invicta on Saturday (5.15pm).