Match Report | 13th December 2009 » Swindon Wildcats 3-4 Sheffield Scimitars

Face Off: 5.45pm, Saturday 12th December 2009

12.12.09 Scimitars back up to 4th place in League after shoot-out at the Link Centre.

A competitive and hard fought game down in Swindon with the Scimitars light on players but strong on determination, coming back from 2-0 down to a nail-biting shootout win. Scimitars rise back up to 4th in the League after this weekend.

The team travelled missing Lloyd Gibson and their GB U20's players, Ben Bowns, Matt Haywood, Tom Squires and Robert Farmer. To boost the roster, Chris Sykes and Mark Turner stepped up from the ENL with James Hadfield from U18s as back-up netminder.

Scimitars applied early pressure on Geoff Woolhouse in Swindon's goal forcing some good saves during two powerplay opportunities, but the Wildcat's also had their chances before Jozef Kohut was able to slot the puck home in an unassisted wrap-around goal at 7.05. Aaron Nell increased the lead at 12.37 with a rising shot over Pasi Raitanen's shoulder but James Archer returned the compliment at 14.48 over Woolhouse's shoulder to end the first period 2-1.

Sheffield turned up the pressure in the second with each line creating chances. They finally broke through to equalise after a good run down the ice by Peter Slamiar, who deked round the opposition before Steve Duncombe put the puck behind Woolhouse at 28.51 on a delayed slashing penalty. The young players stepping up performed well with Chris Sykes scoring the go-ahead goal at 30.56. Both goalies made some great saves as action went end to end and the second period ended as the first, with the Scimitars having to kill off a penalty.

A scrappy start to the third period with neither team able to keep possession to create any fluid play. Then it was Swindon's turn to increase the pace as they tested Raitanen repeatedly, especially with Slamiar in the penalty box with 10 minutes to go and the score at 2-3. However, the pressure finally paid off as Kohut equalised at 56.42. Scimitars had another penalty to kill off with just two minutes left on the clock, and tension increased as Sheffield's penalty-killing unit worked hard to take the game into overtime with Stewart blocking shots and Raitanen making the saves. Overtime was end to end with both sides desperate to take the extra point but a penalty shootout was almost inevitable. Even then it took 14 penalty shots to decide Sheffield as the winner with Cassells and Slamiar the only penalty takers to score and MOM Pasi Raitanen saving Cassells' third attempt whilst Slamiar scored.

Jon Rowbotham said after the game ' This was a highly competitive game but we came for the two points, and all players on tonight's roster pulled together.

The penalty kill units were exceptional and kept us in the game, showing tremendous work ethic, smart plays and self sacrifice and the players I invited up from the academy as replacements did a fantastic job. To win a game on penalty shots after a hard fought battle is very rewarding. A special mention must go to Slamiar and Raitanen for their penalty shot performance.

Scimitars next home game is on Saturday 19th December, 7.30pm v Romford Raiders at iceSheffield.

Game Details:
Period Scores
Swindon 2 - 0 - 1 - 0 = 3
Sheffield 1 - 2 - 0 - 1 S/O = 4
Penalty Mins.
Swindon 6 - 4 - 2 - 0 = 12
Sheffield 2 - 2 - 4 - 0 = 8
Powerplay: Swindon 0/4, Sheffield 1/7
SOG
Woolhouse 13 - 17 - 10 - 3 = 45/3
Raitenen 14 - 14 - 16 - 4 = 48/3

Scoring Details
Swindon: Kohut 2+0, Nell 1+0, Cassells, Aldridge & Griffin 0+1. MOM: J. Kohut
Sheffield: Sykes 1+1, Archer, Duncombe 1+0, Slamiar 0+2, Lee Haywood, Brittle,
Stewart 0+1. MOM. P. Raitanen
Referee: Dean Smith Linesmen: T. Gillingham K. Biggs
Attendance: 680
Not Icing: B. Bowns, M. Haywood, T Squires, R. Farmer, L. Gibson, P. Jones
Icing: C. Sykes, M. Turner, J. Hadfield
Penalties: Slamiar 4 mins, Bell & Strawson 2 mins.

Next Match Report: Sheffield Scimitars 6-2 Romford Raiders
21st December 2009
Previous Match Report: Guildford Flames 4-8 Sheffield Scimitars
7th December 2009

More Match Reports

Announcements

Sheffield Steeldogs - New Website

The Sheffield Steeldogs are in the process of setting up a new website, but in the meantime, all news will be posted on an interim Home page at: http://www.sheffieldsteeldogs.co.uk An...

Update for all Sheffield Steeldogs' Fans

New Website Page for Updates: www.sheffieldsteeldogs.co.uk The Sheffield Scimitars' website will no longer be used for updates for Sheffield Steeldogs announcements. We are working on...