SWINDON FLAMES MATCH REPORTS - 18/05/08

PEEWEE FLAMES 5 v  BANBURY BULLDOGS 2

Sunday saw all of Swindon Skater Hockey Club’s sides in league action at the Farnborough Leisure Centre. First to face off were the Peewee Flames who took on the Banbury Bulldogs. Going into the game the Flames found themselves lying third in the league behind Banbury, whose superior goal difference over the Swindon side allowed them to claim the second slot. With a chance to overhaul the Bulldogs the Peewee Flames hit the rink determined to seize the opportunity and following an opening spell of end-to-end hockey it was the Flames who gained the advantage in the seventh minute when Will Harding’s fierce shot beat the Bulldog’s keeper to give the Flames the lead. With five minutes of the period remaining the Bulldogs managed to score an equaliser but, not to be denied, the Flames retook the lead in the dying seconds of the half when Peewee captain Sam Nobbs found the back of the net to take the Flames to the break 2-1 in front.The second period began with a blistering shot from the halfway line which left the Flames keeper, Leon Coster, no chance of a save and levelled the sides at 2 all. Undeterred, the Flames set about their task and soon reclaimed the lead with a second period hat-trick from Nobbs, which took his tally to 4 and the Flames to a 5-2 victory and second place in the league.

JUNIOR FLAMES 15 v JUNIOR REDS 2

The next fixture saw a “blue-on-blue” clash as the Junior Flames faced off against their club counterparts the Reds. The Reds, who last week celebrated their first win of the season, went it to the game looking to build on their improving form but, from the off, the Junior Flames proved to be to strong and the Reds found themselves trailing 10 - nil at the break with a goal from James Townsend and first period hat-tricks from Junior captain Luke Vincent, Tom Poole and Tom Ireland.Despite their first-half mauling the Reds gave a brave and spirit performance throughout the second period but goals from Vincent, Poole, Ireland ,Townsend and James Bayliss saw the Junior Flames to a comfortable win, not withstanding two late goals for Reds forward Kyle Coupe. The Junior’s 15-2 victory sees them secure their second place in the league with 3 games in hand over the current league leaders, Oxford Hurricanes.

PEEWEE REDS 7 v ASH AVALANCHE RAGE 3

The club’s newest and youngest side the Peewee Reds saw action when they faced off against Ash Avalanche Rage. In their first year in competitive hockey, the Peewee Reds have found the going tough and took to the rink still looking for their first win of the season. Despite the difficult start to the season the Peewee Reds have worked hard and developed a “never say die” team attitude that stood them in good stead as they found themselves trailing 1- nil within the first three minutes. Undeterred, the Reds set about their task with dogged determination and the whole team produced a performance that saw them not only equalise but take the lead with three goals from team captain, Jake Latham and a fourth through Matthew Corrie. A fine showing by stand-in netminder Charlie Endicott, saw the Ash Avalanche denied time after time as they tried to claw their way back into the game and despite a late goal the Reds greeted the halftime whistle 4-2 in front.Sensing their first victory the Reds took to the rink for the second period determined to hold on to their lead and a spirited performance by defenders James Smith, Luke Knight and Oliver Gunton saw the Avalanche effectively shut-out of the game whilst a controversially disallowed goal from Knight proved only to spur on the Reds forwards Charlie Browning and Taylor Mackenzie as the team extended their lead through a second period hat-trick from Jake Latham. Ash managed to snatch a consolation goal in the dying minutes of the game however that did little to dampen the celebrations as the Reds claimed their first ever league points with a much deserved 7-3 win that lifts the team from the bottom of the table. Speaking after the game, Peewee Reds manager, Mark Lane, said “Every player in the team, without exception, gave a “man of the match performance” and I’m really proud of them all. Today’s game goes to show that if we play as a team and work hard for each other then the results will come and now, hopefully, with a win under our belt, we’ll continue to improve as the team gains experience”.

YOUTH FLAMES 7 v  ASH AVALANCHE THUNDER 4

The Flames Youth team took to the rink for their game against Ash Avalanche Thunder looking to keep up the pressure on league leaders Oxford Tornadoes, who they trail by goal difference.In an even and hard fought first period it was the Flames that seized the initiative with a two minute blitz mid-way through the half which saw them take a two goal lead with both John Spence and Jack Townsend finding the back of the net. With just under four minutes of the period left to play a goalmouth scramble resulted in the Avalanche’s first goal and buoyed by their success the Ash team repeatedly stormed the Flames net first to equalise and then, as the clock ticked down to the halftime whistle, snatch the lead 3-2.Stung by the reversal The Flames came back on to the rink with all guns blazing and within the opening two minutes found themselves level through a Connor Mackenzie goal. Almost immediately the Surrey side responded with a goal of their own to edge in front but the Flames were determined to see off the challenge and two goals from Spence, to complete his hat-trick, and one more each for Mackenzie and Townsend saw the Flames to the final whistle 7-4 winner.

SENIOR FLAMES 9 v BANBURY BULLDOGS 2

The final game of the day saw the Flames Senior side facing off against bottom placed Banbury Bulldogs. Sitting on top of the log the Flames were looking to strengthen their grip on the top spot as, earlier in the day, their closest rivals Heathrow Reapers and KSF had played out a 4 all draw giving the Flames a golden opportunity to widen the gap between first and second. The Flames opened their account in the first few minutes of the game through a strike from team captain, and the league’s current highest goal-scorer, Jim Grey and was quickly added to with a goal from Flames forward Dean Morgan before Banbury snatched a goal against the run of play. Stung by conceding the Flames stepped up a gear and two more goals from Grey, another for Morgan and one each for Jamie Baxter and Mark Lane saw the Flames well ahead and in complete control as they went into the break 7-1 up. With the game effectively won in the first half the Flames were content to experiment with their lines in the second half and whilst never under pressure from the Bulldogs, despite a late consolation goal, the Flames only added two more to the score-sheet through “man of the match” Daryll Smart’ to end the game convincing if comfortable 9-2 winners. The win leaves the Seniors at the top of the table, unbeaten and with a 4 point and 2 game advantage over their closest rivals.