Milton Keynes Storm dropped their first point of the season with an unconvincing performance against a Chelmsford side bristling with energy, and no doubt keen to avenge their mauling in the cup last month.

MK started the match well, and their pressing style asked plenty of questions of the home defence. A speedy move from behind their own goal was started by Nathan Carmichael, and a smart pass from debutant Luke Spriggs set Jacob Heron (03:58) up to score cleanly. MK looked likely to pull away from the hosts, and with Chelmsford leaking penalties, MK looked certain to score. But Chelmsford netminder Brummitt showed his worth, and MK just could not stretch their lead. At the other end MK had looked rock solid, but a lack of concentration handed the hosts the very softest of equalizers (14:06), and MK went into the break with little to show for their dominance.

MK started well after the break, and excellent interplay between Green and Connor Goode left Josh Nicklin (23:02) with space to slip through the Chelmsford defence and crash home their second. Once again MK failed to draw away, and the hosts increased their workrate enough to trouble the MK defence. Their second equalizer of the night was the result of a speculative shot (28:45) and a freak deflection (32:58) left MK trailing.

The final period was an anxious affair, with the hosts happy to defend their lead, and MK struggling to find any attacking fluency. With time ticking away, MK slowly started to find their form, and built a long period of powerplay pressure, with some excellent work around the Chelmsford goal. Heron and Green finally unlocked the home defence, and Spriggs (50:27) capped an excellent debut with a beautifully taken shot past the despairing Brummitt. The final minutes of the match were all MK’s and wave after wave of attacks bore down on the increasingly desperate home defence. However despite a series of half chances, MK just could not snatch the points.

This was MK’s first fixture for a month and with key players missing to suspension and injury, and the consequent unfamiliarity of new lines, this lacklustre MK performance came as no surprise. That said, they need to improve quickly if they are to retain their title hopes. A home fixture against old rivals Swindon should be all the incentive they need.

MoM Ross Green

Jacob Heron 1+1
Luke Spriggs 1+1
Josh Nicklin 1+0
Ross Green 0+2
Nathan Carmichael 0+1
Connor Goode 0+1
MK Shots: 39 Chelmsford 18 (MK N/M Scriven 18/3 83.33%)
Penalties: MK 24 Chelmsford 34