Greyhounds leave traps early to steal Milton Keynes thunder

Milton Keynes Thunder 5 Haringey Greyhounds 8 HARINGEY Greyhounds stopped the rot when they beat Milton Keynes thunder in their final ENL Cup game at the Planet Ice Arena on Sunday. The gutsy win gave the struggling Hounds their first points of the cu

Milton Keynes Thunder 5

Haringey Greyhounds 8

HARINGEY Greyhounds stopped the rot when they beat Milton Keynes thunder in their final ENL Cup game at the Planet Ice Arena on Sunday.

The gutsy win gave the struggling Hounds their first points of the cup campaign's eight games and just their second win in 16 games in all competitions this season.

Haringey began boldly, netting three times in the opening period, and kept their foot on the gas throughout to ensure a memorable victory.

"It was a great team performance,"said the Hounds' delighted coach Lee Mercer. "It has been coming but we have lacked a bit of confidence [in recent games].

"We took the lead [in a game] for the first time this season and it boosted confidence which was crucial."

But Mercer remains realistic about the Hounds' precarious league position and is adamant that the Hounds must build on their recent improvement in form.

"December is a big month for us," added Mercer. "We have three vital games [this month against Streatham, Cardiff and Milton Keynes] and we need to start beating these teams that are around us in the table."

On Sunday, the Hounds took an early lead when David Furnley netted in the opening minutes. But the lead did not last, Milton Keynes pulling a goal back when Mark Sanders deflected the ball into his own net.

Hounds pushed on to reclaim the lead when Stuart Appleby scored before Nick Gallagher increased the advantage when he netted just before the end of the period for 3-1.

David Furnley scored in the start of the second period for 4-1 but Milton Keynes kept themselves in it when they swiftly got two goals back, the second from another Mark Saunders own goal.

But the Hounds were up to the challenge and Chris Goddard scored for 5-3 at the start of the third period and Jan Bestic quickly bagged another for a commanding 6-3 lead.

Haringey then gave the hosts a chance when Blair Dubyk deflected a ball into his own net.

But Ryan Payne scored immediately to restore the three-goal margin at 7-4.

Milton Keynes kept on and got a goal back for 7-5 but the Hounds refused to be denied victory and Liam Boyle bagged the game's final goal when he netted in the last minute for 8-5.

Haringey welcome Cardiff Dragons to Alexandra Palace for an English League clash on Sunday evening.

Haringey squad: Williams, Dubyk, Saunders, Richards, O'Flaherty, Payne, Appleby, Slater, Band, Doyle, Gallagher, Fearnley, Wride, Carr, Mathison, Goddard, Bestic.