SWINDON FLAMES MATCH REPORTS - 06/07/08
SWINDON FLAMES PEEWEES 8 v ASH AVALANCHE RAGE 3
The Swindon Flames peewee side took on Ash Avalanche Rage on Sunday in the latest fixture of the 2008 SASH league.
Facing off against Ash Avalanche, who have yet to win a game this season, The Flames had an ideal opportunity to stake a claim to the table’s third spot with a win and, after a brief settling in period, the Flames opened the scoring through team captain Sam Nobbs in the fourth minute of the contest. Thirty second later the lead was doubled with a goal from Zack Simons and further strikes from Jamie Kilby, Will Harding and another from Nobbs saw the Flames to the half time whistle 5-0 up.
Determined to reverse their fortunes Ash took to the ring and from the face off bravely battled to claw their way back into the game and were swiftly rewarded for their efforts with a first minute goal. Stung from their complacency the Flames immediately restored the five-goal cushion with a strike from Ryan Walters. Not to be out done, and with their tails up as a result of their earlier goal, the Avalanche threw everything into attack and were again rewarded with a goal but the Flames reaction was the same as Walters immediately found the back of the net to give the Flames a 7 – 2 lead. With only five minutes of time left to play the Flames added to their lead with a goal from Zack Simons which, despite a late goal from the Avalanche, saw the Flames claim a convincing 8-3 victory and snatch third place in the league.
SWINDON JUNIOR FLAMES 9 v READING RHINOS 4
The Junior Flames also saw action this weekend as they took to the rink for their 2 nd/ 3rd place clash against the Reading Rhinos. With the Flames occupying second place on goal difference alone the match was a must win game for both teams.
Determined to get off to a good start the Flames enjoyed the better of the game’s opening exchanges and soon found themselves two goals up as they blitz the Reading netminder with Flames forward Tom Poole converting twice within a thirty second spell. Five minutes later, the Flames extended their lead to three through a goal from Matt Baxter before the Rhinos at last found a gap in the Swindon side’s defence to score their opening goal. Swindon’s three-goal margin was restored through Tom Ireland minutes later but again the Rhinos managed to take advantage of some lax defending by the Flames to take them into the half-time break trailing 4-2.
Determined to take the fight to the Flames the Rhinos started the second period aggressively and cut the Swindon side’s lead to one within the opening minutes of the half. The Rhinos then clawed themselves back into the game with an equaliser but, as the pressure mounted and tempers began to fray, a flurry of rash challenges by both sides lead to an on-pitch fracas involving several members of both team, the net result of which was ,after the dust had settled and the referees had issue several card, both teams resumed play with only two outfield players. It was the Flames that settled to the task fastest and as their composure returned scoring opportunities for the Flames were created thick and fast as both sides line strengths were restored. Goals from Craig Davis, James Bayliss, another for Ireland and the completion of a hat-trick for Poole saw the Flames take the game 9 – 4 to retain their second place and pull ahead of the Rhinos by two points.
SWINDON FLAMES YOUTH 17 v BANBURY BULLDOGS 3
The Swindon Skater Hockey Club’s last fixture of the day saw the Flames Youth facing off against the Banbury Bulldogs. As with the Peewee earlier in the day the Youths found themselves facing the league’s bottom placed team and with the Flames only two points adrift the game gave the Flames the chance to up the pressure on current leaders Oxford Tornadoes.
The game was a one-sided affair with the Flames sweeping away any challenge from the Bulldogs to emerge easy winners with a 17-3 score-line.
The win draws the Flames level with Oxford on points but the Tornadoes retain top spot through goal difference.