London Raiders’ hopes off pulling off a National League play-off shock were ended by regular season champions Chelmsford, who won 10-5 on aggregate on Sunday.

The Raiders’ season came to an end against the Essex side with a double-header over the Bank Holiday weekend and despite a valiant effort, the Lee Valley outfit were unable to resist the table-topping Chieftains.

Even qualifying for the play-offs after a tumultuous season marked a sizeable achievement for the Raiders, who overcame a 19-game losing streak, mutiny and a player exodus to extend their season.

After finishing the regular season in eighth place, Raiders drew the top seeds and fell behind in the first leg at Lee Valley on Saturday before David Oliver fired the home side level after 13 minutes.

However, the Raiders’ joy was short-lived as Darren Brown restored the visitors’ lead just 22 seconds later only for Jacob Ranson to set up Liam Chong for an equaliser before the buzzer.

And the Raiders built on that momentum to go in front for the first time early in the second period as Stephen Deacon hit the back of the net.

A game minor against defenceman Matt France handed the Chieftains a powerplay chance which Lukas Zatopek gratefully converted. Brown then put the visitors 4-3 ahead at the break.

Two efforts from Ryan Giles opened up a two-goal lead by the 45th minute though, before Martin Piecha scored from another powerplay following a late slashing call against Alan Lack.

The Chieftains took a 6-3 lead back to their Riverside Ice Arena on Sunday evening.

A good start would be crucial for the Raiders if they were to mount a comeback but they got the exact opposite when captain Tom Davis was lost to a hooking penalty inside 60 seconds.

Raiders survived the shorthanded spell only to lose Grant Taylor for the same offence. The home side then opened the scoring after 17 minutes through Danny Hammond to make it 7-3 on aggregate.

Phil Manny pulled the Raiders level on the night in the second period and the game remained tied until late in the session when Ross Brears scored for the hosts.

Left facing an uphill struggle for the final 20 minutes, matters were not helped when Taylor and Lack were binned along with Michael Ranby and Alex Staples for a four-man scrap.

Hammond converted his second of the evening to extend Chelmsford’s lead and although Lack pulled one back for the Raiders, time was running out for the Lee Valley side to overturn the deficit.

Goaltender Chris Douglas was withdrawn for an extra skater in a last-ditch attempt to cut the home side’s lead but Matt Turner fired home a fourth with seconds remaining to kill the tie.