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| Charlie Spridgeon was the Ducks' MVP against Coventry (Photo by Paul Breeze) |
Saturday 30th November – NIHL Laidler Division: Deeside Ducks 2 – Coventry NIHL Blaze 3
The
Deeside Ducks put in a battling performance but narrowly lost out 2-3 to
Coventry NIHL Blaze at Deeside Leisure Centre on Saturday.
When
the two teams met a week earlier in Coventry, the Blaze had come out easy 17-2
winners, so this was certainly a great improvement, but will probably still be
viewed as a disappointing result.
The
first period was goal-less and it took until the 27th minute for the
deadlock to be broken when Chris Jones raced straight out of the penalty box to
slot the puck home for a Ducks’ powerplay goal.
The
lead lasted just 2½ minutes, however, as Coventry went on to equalise, but a
Stewart Cutting goal on 36 minutes edged the Ducks back in front.
This
game was littered with niggly penalties for both sides and the Blaze took
advantage of a powerplay to equalise again with 90 seconds left in the second
period.
The
score was finely balanced at 2-2 with one period left to play but a major
slashing penalty for the Ducks on 47 minutes left them shorthanded for an
extended 5 minute spell and the Blaze managed to fire in what would turn out to
be the winning goal.
The
final minutes were played at a furious pace with the Ducks pushing forward
trying to force a late equaliser and Jace Gledhill performing heroics in the
Deeside net to keep Coventry at bay – but there was no further scoring and the
game finished in a 2-3 win for the Blaze.
The Ducks are next in action this Sunday 8th December away to Altrincham Aces and are next at home on Saturday 14th December when they face Bradford Bulldogs at Deeside Leisure Centre, 5pm face off.
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The game against Coventry on Saturday saw home debuts for 17 year old netminder Jace Gledhill, former Blackpool and Deeside junior Harry Shearman and current Dragons U19 player Charlie Nicholson.
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| Peter Sheffield (Photo by BASN) |
Before
the game, there was a minute’s applause in memory of Peter Sheffield – long
term Deeside photographer and media man - who tragically died last weekend
after an accident two weeks earlier.
(You can read more about Peter Sheffield HERE)
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Ducks
player Cody Ogden has been handed a 2-game suspension by the governing body’s
Department of Player Safety (DOPS) after being banished from the away game at
Coventry for an illegal check to the head.
The disciplinary panel observed: “The
player recklessly endangered his opponent with the check, with primary contact
to the neck/head area.”
