The Connah's Quay Cobras and Leeds Lightning teams after their Summer Classic Cup Play Off Semi Final at iceSheffield (Photo by Cobras IHC)
Saturday 10th August –
Summer Classic Cup Play Off Semi Final: Leeds Lightning 6 – Connah’s Quay
Cobras 7
Having finished second in their
qualification group, the Cobras were paired up against the winners of the A
Group – Leeds Lightning - in this semi final clash at iceSheffield on Saturday.
It was a very closely fought and
entertaining game to watch and the result remained in doubt until the very last
minutes.
Leeds took the lead on 3 minutes,
punishing an early Cobras penalty for tripping but Connah’s Quay soon bounced
back and Chris Keating levelled the score in the 6th minute.
Another powerplay goal for Leeds saw
them edge ahead again 90 seconds later but Keating once again levelled the
scores on 14 minutes and the match remained tied at 2-2 at the first period
break.
The second period was just as close
and it took until the midway point for the next breakthrough. The Cobras took the lead for the first time
with a goal from Slavomir Sykora but were pegged back again by a Leeds
equaliser 65 seconds later.
The Lightning went ahead once again
with another powerplay goal on 33 minutes and held on to lead 4-3 at the second
interval.
The Cobras got the third period off to
a good start and levelled the score with a powerplay strike from Martin Rybka
just 90 seconds in.
Leeds hit back again to retake the
lead on 47 minutes but two quick-fire goals just 40 seconds apart – from
Stewart Cutting and Keating (his hat trick) -
turned the game on its head and gave the Cobras a 6-5 lead.
Leeds managed to draw level again with
just over 3 minutes left to play, setting up a tense finale, but a 4th goal of
the night from Keating on 58 minutes settled matters and the Cobras held on to
win a place in Sunday’s final.
