Match Report | 21st February 2007 » Sheffield Scimitars 1-3 Bracknell Bees

Face Off: 7.15pm, Saturday 17th February 2007

The battle for top of the League, and maybe the eventual League title, on Saturday against Bracknell Bees, was played out in front of a good crowd of nearly 500 despite the clash of face-off times with the Steelers.

Missing key players Millie and Roberts for this huge game and with a few players suffering from a flu-like virus, this was always going to be a difficult and tense match, with the top goal-scoring team versus the top netminder, Pasi.

In a fairly even first period, though with the Scimitars unable to convert initial powerplay chances and with a 'goal' disallowed, it was the Bees' Matt Beveridge, who made the first breakthrough at 16.12 during 4 on 4 play after a short pass from the captain, Parrish. Then with Beveridge in the penalty box and despite some initial poor powerplay work, Dowd scored the equalising goal at 19.56, drilling it home at close range from Morgan and Towe.

Bracknell played hard and physical in the 0-0 second period with some inconsistent refereeing for both sides. The Scimitars usual standard of play got disrupted by Bracknell and the enforced line changes due to injury and suspension. Raitanen saved 12 shots to Craze's 9, but the period ended with the only goal of the period being disallowed for Bracknell. While there was no dispute that the puck had crossed the line, the referee waived it off because the whistle had already been blown as he had lost sight of the puck.

Errors began to creep into the Scimitars game more as they were put under more pressure by Bracknell at the beginning of the period. The game-winning goal for the Bees came at 45.46 after Raitanen had made two saves but couldn't get back in position for the 3rd. Bracknell were able to sustain their attacks more, and although Sheffield battled hard, with shots on goal equal at 7 and some good plays, they were not as sustained or as skilful as usual, perhaps missing 2 of the more experienced and physical players. The empty-netter at 59.33 sealed the game and allowed Bracknell to take the two points to go top. Steve Duncombe was selected as MOM.

Scoring Details: Sheffield: Dowd 1+0, Morgan & Towe 0+1. MOM. S. Duncombe Bracknell: Beveridge 2+1, Wallace 1+0, Melichar 0+2, Parrish & Smital 0+1 MOM N. Craze

Next Match Report: Romford Raiders 1-4 Sheffield Scimitars
21st February 2007
Previous Match Report: Sheffield Scimitars 8-0 Milton Keynes Lightning
13th February 2007

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