Swindon Flames Match Reports
2007 BISHA BRITISH NATIONAL PEEWEE CHAMPIONSHIPS
17th– 18th November, Summerfield Leisure Centre, Hastings, East Sussex
Hot on the heels of the success of the Junior Flames, who last weekend finished 3rd in the British National Junior Championships, The Swindon Skater Hockey Club’s Peewee (U-12s) team took their place amongst the country’s top twelve teams to compete for the British National title at this weekends National Peewee Championships in Hastings, East Sussex.
The Flames, who qualified for this prestigious event by finishing the season as runners-up in this year’s Southern Area Skater Hockey (SASH) league, found themselves grouped with Brighton Street Stormers, champions of the South Eastern league and the London Street Warriors for the mini-league stage of the competition.
The young Swindon side’s championship weekend got underway when the Flames faced off against SESHA league champions, Brighton Street Stormers. The Flames took to the rink determined to get off to a good start but it was the Street Stormers who applied the early pressure scoring their first goal within ninety seconds of the whistle. The Flames immediately struck back, equalising with a goal from team captain, Jack Townsend but the Stormers continued to batter the Flames defence and as the pressure increased the cracks began to appear as the Flames resistance became more and more desperate. Midway through the period, and with the Swindon line shortened by a two-minute penalty, Brighton scored their second goal of the match through a power-play and then just seconds later where awarded a penalty shot when one of their forwards was judged to have been brought down when in a goal scoring position. A fantastic save from Peewee keeper Liam McGuire prevented the Stormers from adding to their tally but with 2 minutes remaining of the first half the Brighton team again broke through the Flames defences to take them into the break 3-1 up.
The second period started with a flurry as the Flames sought to claw their way back into the game and they were quickly rewarded for their efforts when forward Oliver Thompson found the back of the net to bring the score to 3-2. Again, the Stormers pounded the Flames defence and again, when the Flames were reduced to 3 outfield players, the team from Brighton managed to add another power- play goal to restore a two-goal gap at 4-2. As the clock ticked into the final five minutes of the game the Flames put themselves back into contention when Oliver Thompson unleashed a blistering shot into the back of the net followed, seconds later, by the equalising goal from Jack Townsend. With the score tied at 4 all and only 4 minutes left to play the Stormers again snatched the lead and moments later restored their to 2 goal advantage (6-4) as they blitzed the Swindon defence relentlessly. The Flames, however, where still not beaten and their “never say die” attitude saw them mount a remarkable comeback when Oliver Thompson led a short-handed attack on the Stormers’ goals and fired in goal number 5 for the Flames. With 56 seconds of time remaining the Peewee’s battling spirit saw The Flames equalise when Ryan Holland scored his first goal of the season to tie the game 6-6 and secure the Swindon side’s first point of the competition.
Game two of the Peewee’s campaign saw them take to the rink against London and Eastern league’s London Street Warrior. With the Warrior having been beaten earlier in the day, by group rivals Brighton (6-5), the game was a must win affair for the Warriors and an opportunity for the Flames to finish top of the group should they win by two or more goals.
The match began with the Warriors attempting to take control of the game by using their greater strength and size from the very first whistle but not to be intimidated, The Flames withstood the onslaught, kept their composure and within the opening minute the Street Warriors were reduced, first to 3 outfield players, then to 2 as their roughhouse style was penalised by the match officials. Despite the numerical advantage The Flames were unable to make the breakthrough until, when the Warriors were still one man short, Swindon’s defence-man Alex Baker rifled a shot from point which fizzed passed the Warriors keeper and into the back of the net to give The Flames a 1-0 lead. 60 seconds later, with the London side restored to full strength, Baker again fired past the keeper in an almost identical play but The Flames were denied when the goal was questionably disallowed. Not to be deterred The Flames scored their second from the restart when Oliver Thompson converted and two minutes later Jack Townsend added goal number 3 for The Flames. A determined fight back by the London Street Warriors saw them pull back a goal 6 minutes from the end of the period and the with two minutes of the first half remaining they again managed to unlock the Swindon defence to go into the break with The Flames leading by a one goal margin, 3-2.
Buoyed by their comeback the Warriors started the second period on the front foot and within the opening minutes scored the equaliser levelling the game at 3-3. Strung by losing a three goal lead the Flames pushed forward and two quick fire goals from Peewee captain Jack Townsend restored the Flames advantage and effectively ended the Warriors challenge. A further goal from Oliver Thompson and another from Townsend in the dying seconds of the game gave The Flames a deserved 7-3 win and a place in the quarterfinals.
After finishing top of their group The Flames then faced last year’s National and European Peewee Champions Chelmsford Checkers for a place in the semi-finals.
In a game that was reminiscent of two prize-fighters slugging it out both teams traded goals in what was one of the highest scoring matches of the championship. With neither team’s forwards able to establish any kind of dominance over the other and both team’s defences struggling to shut out the other side the game reached halftime with The Flames slightly ahead 8-6 thanks to goals from Oliver Thompson (4), Jack Townsend (3) and Ryan Holland (1). The second period continued were the first had left off with Oliver Thompson and Alex Baker scoring to extend The Flames lead to 10-6 only to be reigned back in by a three goal flurry by the Chelmsford Checkers to bring the score to 10-9. With a little over 6 minutes of time remaining on the clock Jack Townsend again found the net (11-9) but again the response was immediate and two quick fire goals from the Checkers team drew the two sides level. The turning point of the game came when The Flames were reduced to three outfield players through a minor penalty and the Checkers seized the opportunity to go in front (11-12) for the first time in the game. With less than three minutes left Jack Townsend managed to claw back the equaliser and then dramatically put The Flames in front as he scored his 7th goal of the match to give the Flames a slender 13-12 lead. With The Flames only seconds away from a semi-final place the Checkers launched an all out assault of the Flames goal and despite their best effort the Swindon side were unable to resist and the scores were tied at 13 all. As the prospect of extra time looked certain the Checkers mounted a last ditch attack on The Flames, throwing everything forward and with only 88 seconds of time remaining last year’s European Champions Chelmsford managed to steal the win when they unlocked the Flames defence for the last time to give them a 14-13 victory.
Day two of the National Championships weekend saw the Flames in a playoff game against Borehamwood Lionhearts. The Flames were determined to shake off the disappointment of the previous days result against Chelmsford and were in defiant mood. However, it was the Lionhearts who took an early lead in the second minute of the match and despite their best efforts and a goal from Jack Townsend the Flames were unable to reproduce their form from the previous day going into half time 3-1 down.The second period followed much the same course with Borehamwood scoring early and keeping the upper-hand throughout the game. Again the Flames tried to resist but another goal from Townsend and a third from Oliver Thompson were not enough to prevent their defeat with the Lionhearts taking the victory 7-3.
The Flames last game of the championships pitted The Flames against competition host’s Hastings Crazy Dogs in a 7th/8th place playoff. Having clinched 7th place last year the Flames were determined not to lose their ranking and hit the rink with avengance. Led by captain Jack Townsend, who scored a hat-trick in a blistering two minute spell, and Oliver Thompson who also found the back of the net, the Flames re-found their winning form, going into the half time break 4-1 up. Second half goals from both Townsend (2) and Thompson (1) gave The Flames a comfortable 7-1 as they claimed 7th spot in the British National Finals for the second time in two years.
After the final game Flames Peewee manager, Derek Thompson, said. “Its been a fantastic tournament and we’ve really enjoyed ourselves, the whole weekend has been a great experience for the Swindon Flames and the whole team should be rightfully proud of their achievements.
The 2007 National Peewee Championship was won by Oxford Storm who defeated Chelmsford Checkers (19-10) in the final.
At the awards ceremony after the final Swindon Flames captain Jack Townsend was nominated and selected as a National “dream team” forward and was presented with that award.
Swindon Peewee Team 2007
Dream Team Winner - Jack Townsend Netminder - Liam McGuire in action Forward Oliver Thompson
Photographs provided courtesy of
