Match Report | 27th February 2007 » Sheffield Scimitars 5-1 Slough Jets

Face Off: 7.15pm, Saturday 24th February 2007

A photo taken during a Sheffield Scimitars' game

With the FX Scimitars in second place in the English Premier League, just one point behind the Bracknell Bees and with a game in hand, it was vital that they beat the Slough Jets to maintain their chances of winning the English Premier League.

Slough Jets were many people's favourites to win the League at the beginning of the season, the owner, Zoran Kozic having invested in a number of very high calibre players. The Jets are currently fourth in the league, but with five games in hand, also have a real chance to take the league title. Honours are even from the two matches between the Scimitars and the Jets, each team having lost at home when playing each other. It was sure to be a great game.

The referee dropped the puck to start the game. The Scimitars won the face off and Ron Shudra calmly brought the puck back into the Scimitars defensive zone, drawing Slough forward. Shudra made a precision pass to Stuart Brittle on the Jets' blue line who fed a first time pass to Robert Dowd in front of the net. A beautiful wrist shot from Dowd flew straight into the top right corner of the net. Only twelve seconds into the match, the Scimitars took the lead and set the tone of the match.

Slough immediately fought back with a concerted drive on the Scimitars goal, Pasi Raitanen was forced to make four saves in very quick succession and the pressure was only relieved with a hooking call against Slough that put the Scimitars on the power-play.

The Scimitars stretched the Slough defence and then Robert Dowd and Matt Towe played a wonderful passing game all around the net and then once again Dowd slotted the puck home. Just two minutes and twelve seconds into the game the Scimitars were leading 2-0.

With so much at stake, Slough kept pushing. During the sixth minute, with the Slough Jets on the power-play, Steve Moria forced his way in front of the net and flicked a shot towards the top left corner of the net, hit the crossbar, bounced onto the left upright and out. There were appeals for the goal from Slough, but referee Wardell, who was standing only a few feet away from the goal at the time, confirmed 'no goal'.

The Scimitars picked up another three penalties in the first period and Slough just kept piling on the pressure. At one stage the scimitars were down to just three men on the ice, but the combination of superb net minding from Pasi and Ron Shudra calmly organising a watertight defence kept Slough at bay.

Slough kept on coming, even into the last minute of the period, but a good intercept from Simon Butterworth and then a fine pass from the middle of defence zone to Mark Stewart on the left wing. Mark passed straight to Les Millie who just took aim and drilled a shot straight into the back of the net. Nineteen minutes and twelve seconds, the Scimitars lead 3-0.

The second period was scoreless, but packed with action. The Scimitars being short handed three times due to various minor penalties. Throughout the second period Steve Moria, Zoran Kozic, and Dan Mackriel lead even strength and power-play charges against the Scimitars but again and again great defensive work and superb net minding kept the Scimitars ahead.

The Jets dominated the second period, but the Scimitars still managed a couple of explosive break outs and had it not been for some great saves by the Jets net minder, Dean Skinns, the Scimitars could just as easily scored another two goals.

The third period continued with great end to end hockey and both teams pushing hard. In the forty-sixth minute, Dowd passed mid-ice to Matt Towe who broke down the left wing, went behind the net and, faking the wrap around, placed an inch perfect pass to James Goodman. James took the shot from about eight or nine yards out, but the net minder didn't even see it, 4-0.

About five minutes later, with the Scimitars on the power-play, Matt Towe laid on a short pass to Ben Morgan, Ben carried the puck through two defenders and flicked it on to Ron Shudra who, from about two metres out, and at a an almost impossibly acute angle, popped it straight into the back of the net.

Slough, despite being 5-0 down still kept pushing hard and in the fifty fifth minute with the Jets on a 4 on 3 power play, Lee Cowmeadow fed Steve Moria a lovely pass on the right wing that Steve drove through the Scimitars defence to give them the late consolation goal. Final score Sheffield Scimitars 5, Slough Jets 1.

The Scimitars, despite having one of their 'imports' on the injury list, played a great attacking game, and deserved to win, but it was undoubtedly the strength of the defence and the obvious trust and rapport between the defence and the net minder, Passi Raitanen that made the score line appear so one sided.

This is only the Scimitars' second season in the English Premier League, but already they have proved that they have a great attack, great defence and great netminding, but most importantly, they are all playing like a team that really wants this league title.

Bracknell Bees maintained their position at the top of the league with a win over Milton Keynes on Saturday night, but if the Scimitars can beat the Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday night, The Sheffield Scimitars will be at the top of the English Premier League.

Scoring Details: Sheffield: Dowd 2+1, Shudra 1+1, Goodman & Millie 1+0, Towe 0+3, Butterworth, Morgan, Stewart, Brittle 0+1 Slough: Mona 1+0. Cowmeadow & Kozic 0+1.

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