Swindon Flames Match Reports
SWINDON FLAMES YOUTH 9 v SUTTON VIPERS 1
(Flames Youth team qualify for 2007 BISHA British National Youth Championship.)
Sunday saw the Swindon Skater Hockey Club’s Flames Youth team (U-15s) face-off against Sutton Vipers for the final time this season. The Flames’ last fixture left them needing just one more point to make certain of a place in the 2007 British Nationals, however, because of the Vipers 15-0 defeat by Oxford Tornadoes in mid-September, The Flames found themselves in the happy position of being certain of a Championship spot before even taking to the rink.
Having already defeated the Vipers twice this season (7-4 and 9-3) and free from the pressure of National qualification, The Flames faced-off in confident mood, determined to enjoy the game and use it as part of their preparations for the forthcoming Championships. The Flames established their dominance from the off, both in territory and possession, but were unable to turn their advantage into points thanks to an outstanding effort by the Viper’s netminder. Peppered almost non-stop with shots from all sides, it was only because of his efforts that the Viper’s came within two minutes of finishing the first half without conceding. With the close of the first period only seconds away and the keeper beginning to tire Flames forward Jamie Baker blasted the ball into the back of the net to deny the Viper’s a first period shut-out.
The second period promised some relief for the Vipers when The Flames took a two-minute penalty in the opening minutes, but team Captain Hannah Archer fired a long range shot from the face-off to score a short-handed goal which effectively ended the Viper’s stubborn resistance. As the Sutton team succumbed, The Flames began to rack up the goals with Hannah Archer completing a hat trick and Chris Weymouth, Terry Sylvester, Ryan Martin, Connor Mackenzie and Matt Baxter all finding the back off the net. Viper’s managed a late consolation goal but The Flames finished the game convincing 9-1 winners.
Commenting on his team’s performance after the match Youth manager Chris Rose said, “We’re thrilled that our place in the Nationals is now certain. Today’s game was a good, solid performance and exactly the right sort of result that we’re looking for as we gear-up for the Championships. There is still some work to do and I think we can improve in some areas of our game but the team have worked hard all season and on our current form I’m confident that we will be able to hold our own and compete with the best teams in the country”
This year’s BISHA British National Youth Championships take place in Rotherham, Yorkshire on the 3rd and 4th of November, where The Flames will join 11 other teams from all over the country to compete not only for the National Title but also, for the winners, the honour of representing Great Britain at next year’s IISHF European Youth Championships.
The Flames Youth team next see action on 14th October when they face-off against top of the table, Oxford Tornadoes.
Youth Flames - (Back row L-R) Terry Silvester,Kyle Coupe, Michael Weymouth, Christopher Weymouth, Ryan Martin,Connor Mackenzie,Oliver Thompson, Anthony Bayliss (Front row L-R) Liam McGuire, Jack Townsend,Matthew Baxter,Adam Rose, Hannah Archer, Jamie Baker, Alex Baker.
SWINDON FLAMES PEEWEES 5 v OXFORD STORM 8
Also in action on Sunday, The Flames Peewee team (U-12s) took on league leaders, Oxford Storm, in their penultimate game of the 2007 season.
With The Flames trailing Oxford by only two points and with both teams having already qualified for next month’s British National Championships, the result of this game could determine the winner of the 2007 SASH Peewee League and each team’s seeding at the Nationals.
As Oxford Storm started the day undefeated in this year’s league, soundly beating the Swindon side in two previous encounters (16-0 and 11-3), and enjoying a massively superior goal difference, there was little, if any, real prospect that a win for The Flames would dislodge Oxford from the top spot. In fact, a victory for the Oxford side in this fixture would confirm them as this year’s League Champions. For The Flames, however, the match was a chance to restore some pride, spoil Oxford’s unbeaten record and secure an advantage going into the Nationals Championships.
The game began with Oxford opening the scoring within the first two minutes but a determined Flames struck back almost immediately with a strike from Assistant Captain Oliver Thompson. Two minutes later The Flames stunned Oxford, by again finding the back of the net, this time team Captain Jack Townsend scoring to take a 2-1 lead. Stung into action, the Oxford side regrouped and scored three goals in quick succession to bring the score to 4-2 in their favour. Not to be denied The Flames continued to pressure the Oxford side and were rewarded for their efforts when Jack Townsend scored The Flames third goal, closely followed by another from Oliver Thompson, which saw the teams reach halftime tied at 4-4.
The second period started much the same as the first with Oxford drawing first blood within the first ninety seconds and then adding another goal one minute later to bring the score to 6-4. Again, The Flames refused to give in and when Jack Townsend fired the ball past the Oxford netminder to complete his hat trick the game looked destined to go to the wire. As the clock ticked down the Oxford side, visibly rattled by the tenacity of the Flames, began to concede unforced penalties and this was, ironically, where their experience began to show as they successfully slowed down the game on their penalty kills. The Oxford side managed to score a short-handed goal to bring the score to 7-5 and, despite the best effort of the young Flames side, when Oxford returned to full strength with a minute of the game left to play they secured the win with a final goal which gave them an 8-5 victory.
After the game Flames Peewee manager, Derek Thompson said, “ We’re really proud of our performance in what was a bit of a “David and Goliath” affair. Given that many of Oxford’s players are now at the top age for Peewee hockey and haven’t dropped a single point all season it’s very encouraging to see our young, developing side give such a determined and spirited effort. Congratulations must go to Oxford Storm for winning the SASH league this year and although we didn’t beat them today I think that we gave them a good run for their money and we’re looking forward to meeting them again, either in next year’s league or at next month’s Nationals.”
The BISHA British national Peewee Championships, to be held in Hasting, East Sussex, over the weekend of the 17th November, will see The Peewee Flames competing against qualifying teams from all the other BISHA leagues throughout the country in a bid to become National Peewee Champions and Great Britain’s representatives at the 2008 IISHF European Peewee Championships.
The Flames Peewee team next face-off for their final league game of 2007 when they face-off against Ash Avalanche Rage on the closing day of this year’s SASH League fixtures, Sunday the 28th of October.