SWINDON FLAMES MATCH REPORTS - 13/07/08

SWINDON FLAMES YOUTH 15 v BANBURY BULLDOGS 4

Swindon Skater Hockey Club’s U-15’s team, the Swindon Flames Youth, snatched the SASH league’s top spot after Sunday morning’s game at the Farnborough Leisure Centre with a convincing win over the Banbury Bulldogs.

Going into the game the Flame held second place, trailing Oxford Tornadoes by goal difference, and facing off against bottom placed Banbury the Swindon side had a golden opportunity to finish in the top spot as the league begin their summer break.

The Flames started brightly with John Spence netting after only 30 seconds play. The Banbury side showed their tenacity when they levelled the game with less than 4 minutes played. Spence again put the Flames in front only for the Bulldogs to equal the scores less than a minute later. Two further goals from John Spence remained unanswered however, and with further goals from Connor MacKenzie and a last minute effort from Oliver Thompson the Flames reached half-time with a 6-2 lead which they never looked like surrendering. With a comfortable lead established Manager Derek Thompson gave back-up netminder Liam McGuire a chance of some valuable experience replacing the reliable Adam Rose in goal. Two early second-half goals from Oliver Thompson gave him his hat-trick and Connor MacKenzie netted a short-handed goal before Banbury managed to pull a goal back with 5 minutes of the second half elapsed. A double from Jack Townsend and a third from MacKenzie earning Connor his hat-trick put the Flames further in front before John Spence hit his fifth goal of the game with 5 minutes remaining. With the Flames and Bulldogs both incurring minor penalties a scrappy end to the game ensued before Banbury reduced the deficit with an unfortunate own goal which rolled over the line after bouncing off an unfortunate Flames defender with only 35 seconds of the game remaining. Amazingly the Flames still managed to increase their lead further with Bernadette Wagerfield netting with only 11 seconds left before John Spence set the seal on a fine personal performance to net his sixth goal with only 2 seconds of the game left. The win leaves the Flames on top of the table with 3 games remaining.

Speaking after the game team manager, Derek Thompson, said “ Going into the summer break as league leaders is a great accomplishment for the team and although Oxford have a game in hand, we have the points on the board and that should give us a slight advantage when we restart in mid- September and it also means that the other contenders for a place in the Nationals are now chasing us. 

SWINDON FLAMES SENIORS 11 v KSF VIPERS 5

Seeking to emulate their younger club-mates, the Flames Senior squad were also looking to see the summer break in as league leaders, but their challenge to retain the top spot was somewhat more difficult as they faced of against second placed KSF Vipers with only a single point separating the teams.

Having met twice already this season, with the teams claiming a game each, this top of the table clash was a “must win” game for both sides and as expected both sides took to the rink determined to take all the points. Within seconds of the face-off the Flames task became all the more difficult as the Vipers found the back of the net to finish off their very first attack on the Flames goalmouth. Stung into action, the Swindon side responded immediately and drew level within a minute with a goal from forward Craig Davies. In a fast paced, hard fought exchange the Vipers again edged in front in the seventh minute. Again, the Flames launched a counter-attack and, despite both team having been reduced to three outfield players through a minor penalty call, when Dan King’s fierce shot fizzed passed the KSF netminder the Flames thought that they had clawed back the point but found, to their dismay, the goal controversially disallowed. Not to be outdone the Flames redoubled their efforts and as both teams were restored to full strength Davies again rifled a shot past the Vipers keeper to equalise and with less than 4 minutes of the first period remaining the Flames snatched the lead with a strike from Jamie Baker to take the half time whistle 3-2 in front.

Determine not to make the same error as in the first half of the game the Flames started the second period at full tilt and were soon rewarded with goal number four when Davies converted to completed his hat-trick. Again, the Vipers struck back but the Flames were by now in control of the game and some superb team play resulted in goals for Dan King (x2) Mark Lane (x2), Jim Grey and Luke Swaby to give the Flames an unassailable 9 – 3 lead going into the final minutes of the period. The Vipers battled bravely on and managed to score their fourth goal only to be pegged back with Dan King scoring again to take a hat-trick. Despite a last gasp effort by the Vipers, who claimed their fifth goal with only 35 second of play remaining, the rout was complete when Mark Lane netted his second of the game 17 second before the whistle to give the Flames a comfortable 11-5 victory and secure the teams place at the top of the table. 

SWINDON FLAMES PEEWEES 8 v KSF VIPERS 1

The Club’s Peewee team went into their match looking to keep the pressure on the table’s top two with a win against the Vipers. Despite fielding a short bench the Flames soon established a lead with the opening goal for Jamie Kilby which was soon added to by team Captain Sam Nobbs. The Vipers managed to pull one back in the dying seconds of the first period to take the break only one goal off the pace.

The Flames, however, hit the rink for the second period determined to make amends for a lacklustre first half and immediately stepped into another gear and swept the Viper’s challenge aside with unanswered goals from Nobbs and Kilby, to complete their hat-tricks, and a brace from Flynn McGinley which saw the Peewee’s romp to and 8-1 win.

 

SWINDON FLAMES JUNIORS 5 v OXFORD HURRICANES 6

Next in action, the Junior Flames faced off against local rivals and league leaders Oxford Hurricanes. The Flames, second in the log, went into the game hoping to snatch at least a point from the unbeaten Oxford side to close the gap and to break the Oxford side’s 10 game winning streak.

In a thrilling end-to end encounter it was the Hurricanes who seized the early advantage when the scored within the opening 90 seconds. The Flames made their intentions clear from the restart when they equalised almost immediately through forward James Townsend and then snatched the lead with a goal from Matt Baxter. Unfortunately, the Flames then conceded a penalty, which left them one man short, and the Hurricanes wasted no time in exploiting the situation to equalise. With only five minute left to play Oxford edged into the lead for the second time but within seconds of the restart Flames forward Craig Davies drew the Swindon side level with a blistering shot past the Hurricane’s keeper and as the clock ticked down to the break the Flames once again nosed in front with a strike from Tom Poole. Not to be outdone the Hurricanes launched a blistering attack on the Flames and were soon rewarded with the equaliser that took the teams to the half time whistle with the score tied at 4 all.

The second period was a hard fought, high paced affair with both teams competing for every ball and it was not until midway through the period that the Hurricanes managed to edge back in front but again the Flames refused to be denied and within thirty second the stalemate was restored when Matt Baxter found the back of the net for the second time to bring the score to 5 all.

With no quarter asked or given the deadlock was only broken when the Hurricanes managed to slip in behind the Flames defence and snatch their sixth goal with a full ten minutes of game time remaining. With their noses in front the Oxford team retreated with every man behind the ball and effectively stone walled the Flames for the remaining minutes and despite their best efforts the Swindon side were unable to find a way through the staunch Oxford defence who managed to cling on to take a 6-5 win and maintain their unbeaten run. 

SWINDON FLAMES PEEWEE REDS 1 v FARNBOUROUGH ARROWS 20

The last fixture of the day saw Swindon’s youngest team the Peewee Reds facing off against the highly rated Farnborough Arrows.Having been soundly beaten by the Arrows in for what was for many in the team their first ever competitive hockey game the match provided the side with a barometer with which to measure their ongoing improvement.

Thanks to some heroics from Callum Lane in goal the half time score was 6-0.However, the 2nd half was a different story when alternate keeper Charlie Endicott was helpess to prevent a barrage of goals from the more experienced Arrows squad intent on raising their goal difference stats. A goal from Charlie Browning lifted the team, but the fact that the team were beaten by almost double the score earlier in the season shows the great steps taken by the team as they continue to learn and improve as a team and as individual players. 

Skater Hockey is a fast, exciting team sport, similar to ice hockey, played in indoors sports halls using inline skates and a ball rather than a puck. Swindon Skater Hockey Club trains on Saturdays  (Friday evenings for the Juniors) at the Croft Recreation Centre where all new players, regardless of experience or ability, are always welcome. For those that wish to give it a try for the first time, the club runs a beginners session from 12.00hrs – 13.00hrs on Saturdays. The club can provide some loan equipment (helmets, gloves and sticks) for novices, on the day, but please bring your own skates.

For further information please contact The Croft on 01793 526622 or visit www.swindonflames.com