Sunday 18th March 2018 – Rec Challenge Match Halton Huskies (Widnes) 10 – Coventry Spitfires 5
Period Scores: 2-3, 3-2, 5-0
Penalties In Minutes: Halton 6 - Coventry 8
Huskies Scoring: Josh Grocutt 5+0, Jeff Chapman Watson 1+2, James Kelly, Michael Parkin & Richard Evans all 1+1, Daniel Trust 1+0, James Behan & Nathan Hewitt 0+1
Match Officials: Ray Ormes & Simon Anders
Match report by Paul Breeze
Photos by David Law Photography (https://www.facebook.com/davidlawphotographer/)
The
Halton Huskies recreational team beat the Coventry Spitfires 10-5 in an
entertaining challenge match at Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday.
The
home side opened the scoring after just 20 seconds of the game with a great
goal from Josh Grocutt but the Spitfires hit back with two goals in under a
minute – from Joseph Little and Thomas Sturdy – to edge them into the lead. A
powerplay goal from the Huskies’ Michael Parkin levelled the score on 12
minutes but the visitors went into the first break with a 2-3 lead after Ethan
Kane fired them back ahead with 3 minutes left in the period.
The
second period carried on in the same vein as the first with both teams very
closely matched and excellent sporting play on both sides. The Spitfires made
it 2-4 with just 80 seconds gone in the period with an incredible short handed
goal by Mark Swinnerton but the Huskies pulled a goal back on 25 minutes with
another fine effort from Grocutt. Coventry’s Steven Smith re-established the
2-goal cushion with a strike on 27 minutes but two goals in the latter stages
of the period – from Jeff Chapman Watson and James Kelly – sent the teams in
level pegging at 5-5 for the second break.
The
third period saw excellent defensive work and outstanding netminding from the
Halton team as they managed to keep the Spitfires’ attack at bay and score five
unanswered goals to make sure of the win.
The
avalanche started on 42 minutes with a goal from Daniel Trust to make it 6-5
and put the Huskies back in the lead for the first time since the opening
minutes.
A
hat-trick goal followed for Grocutt on 49 minutes and a goal by Richard Evans
on 51. Two more goals from Grocutt – just 10 seconds apart on 54 minutes
rounded off the scoring and handed the Huskies a sensational 10-5 victory.
The
Huskies have another home game this Saturday 24th March against the Solihull
Grizzlies at Planet Ice Widnes. Face off is at 22.15pm and admission is
free.
You
can follow the Halton Huskies on their Facebook page HERE
