Deeside Demons 5 - Widnes Wildcats 5
Period Scores: 1-0, 3-2, 1-3 / Widnes win on Penalty Shots 0-2
Match Report:
The term “a game of two halves” is normally applied to football but
that is definitely what we got last night – even though the match was, in fact,
divided into the usual three periods.
Having been trounced 4-13 at home by the Grimsby Ice Bears in their
last match, Deeside Demons were quickest off the blocks for this encounter with
near rivals Widnes Wildcats.
The first period was pretty close - although the home team did have a little
more of the play and did deserve their 1-0 lead at the first break.
In the second period they pulled away and looked to be coasting to an
easy victory at 4-0 up but then the Wildcats seemed to get their act well and
truly together. They pulled back two
quick goals and found themselves with a 5- on-3 advantage going into the 3rd
period.
The Wildcats pulled another goal back during this powerplay to make it
4-3 but the Demons struck again to maintain their 2 goal cushion. The action was anything but “recreational” during
this last third and while the Demons did their best to keep them out, the
Wildcats really had their tails up by then and struck two more goals to tie the
score at 5-5 with 5 minutes to go.
No more goals were forthcoming and we were treated to a nail-biting
climax in the shape of a penalty shoot-out. The tension on the ice could be
felt in the stands and one poor Demon actually got himself binned by the
Referee during the shoot-out for breaking his stick against the boards in
frustration.
The shoot-out went
Demons 0 0 0 0Wildcats 1 1 0
And the game ended with the Widnes netminder Barry Sprakes buried under
a pile of celebrating teammates for having stopped all penalty shots that he
faced.
The Deeside Demons are at home against this Sunday in a cup game
against the Riverside Raiders of Widnes who they beat away 2-13 back in June. The match faces off at 6.30 pm at Deeside
Leisure Centre and admission is free.
The Widnes Wildcats are next at home on Sunday 2nd August
when they take on the Sheffield Ice Tigers in a 7.30pm face off.
.
