SWINDON FLAMES MATCH REPORTS - 28/09/08

SWINDON FLAMES JUNIORS 17 v HEATHROW REAPERS 0

The Junior Flames went into their fixture looking to cement their second place in the league against an opposition that they had already defeated twice this season. With both teams short-handed the game promised to be a test of stamina and fitness despite the Flames clear superiority over their opponents. Having seen their club’s development side, the Reds, thrash the Reapers in last week’s game the Junior Flames hit the rink confidently and, eager to avoid any complacency, took control of the game from the first whistle. An opening goal from Flames forward Craig Davies in the first two minutes of the game saw the Reapers on the back foot from the outset and goals at regular intervals from Tom Ireland, Luke Swaby, James Towmsend and Tom Poole saw the Flames to the break 5nil up and in complete control.

The second half saw the Flames ruthlessly exploit their advantage and as the Reapers resistance waned the Swindon side stepped on the gas with Tom Poole adding four more, Davies three, Ireland 2, and Swaby, Townsend and Hannah Archer each finding the back of the net to give the Flames an emphatic 17-0 win with Flames netminder Duncan Morton , although largely untroubled throughout the game, recording his second shut-out of the season. 

SWINDON FLAMES YOUTH 5 v KSF VIPERS 8

Having met twice already this season with the Swindon side edging both keenly contested games another difficult encounter was expected when the two teams met for their final game at Farnborough Leisure Centre. The Swindon side was again short of some of their senior players and were unable to field two full lines. Manager Derek Thompson chose to utilise all his available players with regular player rotations and gave back-up netminder Liam McGuire some valuable match experience replacing the ever-reliable Adam Rose during both halves. A quick, skilful KSF side, although short on numbers themselves appeared to have a big physical advantage and took the game to Swindon from the face-off, soon finding themselves camped around the Flames goal. Their pressure was soon rewarded when they took the lead within 4 minutes and they extended this lead after 8 minutes when they took advantage of a short-handed Flames side due to a minor penalty call. Things looked grim for the Flames when KSF went further ahead less than a minute later. The Flames were unable to take advantage of a penalty call on KSF but began a fight-back when Will Harding surprised the Vipers netminder with a long range shot which found the back of the net. This success provoked more urgency into the Flames side and Oliver Thompson ensured the sides went into the break level at 3-goals each with two well-taken efforts. Half-time unfortunately seemed to disrupt the fluency that the Flames had achieved during the latter part of the first period and the opening 4 minutes of the second half again saw the Vipers score 3 quick goals as the KSF forwards found themselves repeatedly unmarked in front of the Swindon goal. Again it briefly looked as if the Flames were about to mount a second fight-back when Oliver Thompson completed his hat-trick and within a minute Alex Baker had further reduced the deficit with a shot from his own half which completely deceived the Vipers netminder. The game developed into a stalemate at this point and both sides successfully killed off minor penalty calls. With the Flames unable to force an equaliser and time running-out the initiative again swung to KSF who took full advantage to score two further late goals and run-out convincing winners as some heads dropped in the Swindon side.  

SWINDON FLAMES PEEWEES 4 v FARNBOROUGH ARROWS 6

Earlier in the day the Flames Peewee team faced off against form side Farnborough Arrows who beaten the Flames by more than 20 on the first day of the season. Determined to improve the Peewees battled bravely but eventually succumbed 6 – 4 in a hard-fought and closely contected game. 

SWINDON FLAMES JUNIOR REDS 1 v ASH AVALANCHE 8

Also in action on Sunday morning, the Junior Reds, faced off against rivals Ash Avalanche. Although looking to build on last weeks victory over the Heathrow Reapers a short handed bench proved to be the downfall of the Reds as they crashed to a 8-1 defeat with captain Jamie Baker scoring the solitary Reds’ goal.