Swindon Flames Match Reports
SASH LEAGUE RESULTS 14/10/07
SWINDON FLAMES JUNIORS 7 v ASH AVALANCHE TYPHOON 4
(Success for SSHC as Junior Flames join Peewee and Youth teams in qualifying for the 2007 BISHA British National Championships.)
After a prolonged lay-off, due to fixture congestion, the Swindon Skater Hockey Club’s Junior Flames (U-18s) returned to league action on Sunday for their first game since the summer break as they faced off against Ash Avalanche Typhoon for their season defining, crunch match at the Farnborough Leisure Centre.
With only one point separating the two teams, the encounter was a “must win” game for both sides, with the winners claiming a stake to the last guaranteed place in the 2007 British National Championships and the losing side facing a playoff game against this year’s “B” league Champions, either Heathrow Reapers or Reading Rhinos, as a last chance route to Nationals qualification.
Having faced each other twice this season, the evenly matched teams had shared the points from their previous league games equally with The Flames beating Ash 6-0 early in the season and then being defeated 4-6 in their next encounter in May.
The Flames started brightly, showing few signs of their lack of match practice, and an goal from forward Tom Poole in the opening minutes of the game, gave the Swindon side an early advantage but in a hard fought first period, and despite both teams being short-handed through penalties at various times, neither side could establish any dominance over the other and the chances were splint 50:50 at both ends of pitch. As the game headed to the half-time break, Flames striker Craig Davies found the back of the net to take the Flames into the interval with a two-goal lead.
Ash Avalanche Typhoon faced off for the second half intent on pulling back the deficit and in a blistering opening spell the Avalanche forwards fired in the two equalising goals in within the first three minutes of the restart. Reeling from the Avalanche onslaught the Flames began to unravel, conceding two unforced penalties, which left them with only two outfield players. Thanks to the efforts of the Flames’ defence the Ash side where unable to turn this advantage into points. However when the Flames were restored to full strength, the Avalanche forwards managed to beat the Flames netminder to take the lead 3-2.The Flames immediately regrouped and regained some of their composure and a thrilling solo attack by forward Will Crowder brought the Flames a much deserved equaliser followed quickly by a goal from Miles Bailey to give the Flames a 4- 3 lead with only seven minutes left to play. Not to be denied the Ash team hit back and attacked the Flames goal relentlessly for the next 5 minutes and when the Flames were again short-handed due to a minor penalty the Ash team scored to level the game at 4 each. With the clock ticking down Flames forward Tom Poole managed to link up with Will Crowder who fired the ball into the back of the Avalanche net to once again give the Flames the lead at 5-4. With only 40 seconds of game-time remaining the Ash team pulled their netminder and added an extra forward in a desperate attempt to wrestle the victory from the Flames, however a loose ball found Flames forward Craig Davies unmarked and the victory was sealed as he coolly drove the ball into the empty net.
In the last play of the game The Flames won the ball from the restart and with six seconds left to the final whistle Craig Davies completed his hat trick by again beating the Avalanche keeper to secure a 7-4 win, and Nationals qualification, for the Junior Flames.
After the game team manager Nina Hawkins said,” We’re all really proud of what the team have achieved and we’re thrilled to have won our place in the Nationals in what was an exciting and evenly matched game. Our Junior team showed a lot of character, skill and determination and we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to carry our current form into the Nationals in November”.
As a result of their victory over Ash Avalanche The Flames claimed the last guaranteed slot for the 2007 BISHA British National Championships to be held in Bisley, Surrey on the weekend of 10th/11th November where they will be competing against the best teams in the country, not only for the National Title but also for the honour of representing Great Britain in next year’s IISHF European Championships.
The Junior’s success follows hot on the heels of the successful qualification of the club’s Peewee and Youth teams for the national Championships. Club Chairman, Les Satchell said ”The fact that all of our teams have done well this year and are going on to the National Championships shows the strength in depth at the club and is a testament to the successful development programme being run in Swindon.”
SWINDON FLAMES YOUTH 0 v OXFORD TORNADOS 17
Unlike their Junior Flames counterparts the Flames Youth team (U-15s) went into their game on Sunday already assured of a place in the National Championships.
Facing league leaders Oxford Storm, and missing key players, in a game of little consequence, the Flames saw this match as an opportunity to give their development players an outing. The development players, mostly play-up’s from the Peewee team, squared up to the daunting task of taking on this year’s SASH champions and for the first period accounted for themselves well, conceding only 5 times in what was always going to be a one-sided affair. The second period saw the Oxford team cruse to a 17 - nil victory as the experience, strength and physical size of their team overran the young Swindon side.
SWINDON FLAMES JUNIOR REDS 7 v OXFORD CYCLONES 1
(Reds secure 3rd place league finish)
Also in action on Sunday, The Flames junior development side “The Reds” faced off against bottom of the league Oxford Cyclones, hoping to secure a place in the top three, the highest-ever league finish for the Club’s development side. With games in hand and only needing one more win to achieve their objective The Reds started the game confidently and where given a boost when in the opening minute of the game an error by the Oxford netminder resulted in an own-goal. Further goals from Matt Baxter and Jamie Baker gave The Reds a 3-goal advantage as they reached the half time whistle. The second period saw more goals from The Reds as Jamie Baker, Matt Baxter, Colin Offler and Mike Weymouth all found the back of the net to give them a 7-0 lead. Oxford managed a late consolation goal when Reds netminder, Adam Rose, was caught off guard after having little to do for the entire second period. The 7-1 victory lifted The Reds to third in the league, from which they cannot be dislodged and marks the development teams highest ever finish. “As a development side the expectation is not that we win trophies or leagues. The reason that this team exists at all is to help the development of our up and coming players, but if we can achieve this and win a few games on the way then all the better,” said Reds coach/manager John Devine after the game. ”The outstanding performance by this year’s Reds, a team that consists almost entirely of Youth “play-ups” has surpassed all expectations and is even more impressive when you consider that the two teams above us are both fielding experienced, top-aged Junior lines in every game. To end the season with not only our best ever placing but also with our highest points tally is an achievement that all the players should be proud of.”