HARINGEY Greyhounds began the English League play-offs in the best possible way – beating one of the favourites in a bruising encounter at Ally Pally on Sunday. The Hounds triumphed thanks to goals from all three lines on the ice

Greyhounds 4 Streatham 2

HARINGEY Greyhounds began the English League play-offs in the best possible way - beating one of the favourites in a bruising encounter at Ally Pally on Sunday.

The Hounds triumphed thanks to goals from all three lines on the ice. Though they had keeper Dave Wride largely to thank at the other end, for it was his steely resistance that prevented Streatham from converting more than two of their 44 shots.

"It was a hard, gritty game - we've got the bruises to show for it," said Hounds Jan Bestic.

"We conceded the first and the last goals, and they had almost twice as many shots as us, but we didn't get fazed by it.

"We pulled together and you can see from the stats that everyone played his part."

Scott Cannam scored from Gary Dodds' assist after the Hounds had handed the visitors a customary opening goal - albeit an unstoppable strike on a powerplay.

Jamie Hirst then slotted in from Bestic's pass to make it 2-1 at the end of the first period.

Cannam converted a power-play in the second period and Andy Johnson scored an even-handed goal with help from Rob Johnson in the third period to make it a comfortable 4-1 lead going into the closing stages.

Wride, who plucked shots from the air to deny the visitors, was unlucky to be beaten for a second time late on.

The two teams meet again tomorrow at Streatham, though the Hounds will be without star forward Cannam who is overseas on business.

"Without being cocky, we're confident," said Bestic. "Scott will be a big loss, but it's not the end of the world because the reason he has been so good for us is the support that he's been getting from the other players.

"Ricky Rutherford has been outstanding, as has Gary Dodds.

"And I'm sure that our Finish import Nick Burton will be up to the task if he comes in in place of Scott."

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