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| Emma Dutton was the Cobras' MVP against Birmingham (Photo by Beth Jones) |
The Connah’s Quay Cobras played out a closely fought and highly entertaining challenge match against the Birmingham Rockets at Deeside Leisure Centre on Sunday, finishing all square at 7-7 before going on to win on penalty shots .
The
start was delayed after a panel of plexi glass got broken during the warm up and
had to be replaced, but once the game finally got underway, it was quite eventful.
In
the very first minute, the referee signalled a delayed penalty call and – in
some confusion - both teams thought that the call was in their favour.
Both
netminders rushed off the ice in favour of an extra attacker, leaving both
goals undefended and the Cobras – who
were, in fact, the beneficiaries of the decision - managed to take an early lead
as Ken Valyear fired in the empty net goal.
The
rest of the game played out in a more regular fashion and it remained goal-less
until the 16th minute when Birmingham equalised. The Cobras retook the lead just 50 seconds
later with a goal from Mike Filek but the Rockets equalised again with 48
seconds left in the period to leave the game standing at 2-2 at the first period
break.
The
second period continued in similar vein as Filek put the Cobras ahead again on
24 minutes, with Birmingham levelling again 2 minutes later.
Martin
Solicny edged Connah’s Quay ahead once more on 30 minutes and the Rockets
countered again 5 minutes after that.
Just as it looked as if the sides would remain level at the second
interval, Stolicny scored again with 36 seconds left on the clock to give the
Cobras a narrow 5-4 lead with one period left to play.
Birmingham
were quickest out of the blocks for the third period and two quick goals within
90 seconds of each other put them in the lead for the first time in the
game.
Sam
Plant equalised for the Cobras on 51 minutes but the Rockets edged ahead again
just 49 seconds after that.
A
Slava Sykora goal on 55 minute drew Connah’s Quay level once more to set up a
nail-biting last 5 minutes.
With
no more scoring in the game, it had to be decided by a penalty shoot out and Mike
Jones secured the victory for the Cobras with the winning shot.
The MVPs for the game went to Tom Hooper for Birmingham Rockets and Emma Dutton for Connah’s Quay Cobras.
