ALTRINCHAM ACES 16-6 KINGSTON JETS 3 NOVEMBER 2002

Aces were home to Kingston, the Jets occupying second place in the League with just one defeat to Sheffield. Aces missed the injured Phil Keelan and suspended Billy Price (1 of 2).

Recent home games have seen Jets blown away in the first period and this one would be no different. With Aces on an early powerplay, Stephen Elliott passed from behind the goal and Steve Daly put it in. A minute later, Jason Hewitt took the puck right and fired home from the angle. 3-0 after six minutes after Stephen E chased the puck and set up Steve D for the goal. Aces played off about a minute of 3 on 5 and then, with a delayed penalty against the Jets, a great Jason Hewitt pass out of defence set up Greg Allen who deked the goalie and scored from the right. To finish the period at 5-0, a pass from Nick Crawley found Stephen E on the left to skate in and beat the keeper.

5-0 became 6-0 early on when Greg Allen missed the first chance at a gaping net before Jason scored with the second. Kingston scored what looked like a soft goal through Phil Verstappen's legs though the puck may have been slowed by wet ice. Matt Street then put a rebound from a stick save straight back in and that was the end of Phil's involvement for the night. Brian Worrall scored after being set up by Greg behind the net. At halfway, Aces added a couple of powerplay goals as a Simon Mills pass set up Greg for a shot that threaded its way between Karl Holmes and his post, the second came after Jason skated back onside, straight back in and collected Greg's pass to score with a low shot. Kingston scored their third after Danny Higgin's stretched stick missed the puck and Matt Street converted the chance but Aces restored their seven goal lead when Luke Stretton sent in the puck from the corner and it went in off the keeper for an unlikely goal. Jets finished the period scoring when a pass found Paul Simpson in space and he made no mistake.

Another early goal for the Aces as Jason Hewitt beat their defence for space on the right and beat the keeper easily sliding the puck inside the far post. Stephen E then missed a chance on a breakaway but Steve D netted the rebound for his hat trick. That became three goals when Russ Richardson got the puck in front of the net and lifted it over the keeper to score against his former team. With the game dead as a contest, Jets Tim McKay scored two from in front of the net before Arran Richardson got one the same down the far end. Aces scored two more before the end - Brian Worrall netting a rebound after Greg had been stopped in front and Steve Daly netting his fourth under pressure in front of the net. With the only remaining entertainment being how many times Nipper was going to change his mind on the Kingston MoM ('as they were all *****''), Aces ran out 16-6 winners.

A good win against a side that, although it had its best player (Anthony Payne) missing, didn't appear to be that weakened.

1-0 02.16 Daly from A Richardson and Elliott PPG
2-0 03.21 Hewitt from Allen
3-0 06.17 Daly from Elliott and A Richardson
4-0 14.27 Allen from Hewitt and R Richardson
5-0 18.18 Elliott from Crawley
6-0 20.18 Hewitt from Allen and Worrall PPG
6-1 22.47 Hobson from A Winn
6-2 24.02 Street from Simpson
7-2 24.19 Worrall from Allen
8-2 30.18 Allen from Mills and R Richardson PPG
9-2 32.43 Hewitt from Allen PPG
9-3 35.09 Street from Simpson PPG
10-3 35.46 Stretton
10-4 38.04 Simpson from Hobson and Street PPG
11-4 40.21 Hewitt
12-4 41.18 Daly from Elliott
13-4 43.51 R Richardson from Worrall PPG
13-5 47.05 T McKay from Young and S Winn
13-6 48.38 McKay
14-6 49.24 A Richardson from Hewitt and R Richardson
15-6 54.26 Worrall from Allen and Hewitt
16-6 57.09 Daly from Stretton and Elliott

ACES

Greg Allen 2+5, Dave Meikle, Russ Richardson 1+3 (MoM), Steve Michie, Brian Worrall 2+2,
Nick Crawley 0+1, Jason Hewitt 4+3, Simon Mills 0+1, Arran Richardson 1+2,
Stephen Elliott 1+4, Luke Stretton 1+1, Steve Daly 4+0, Kevin Cassidy,
Phil Verstappen (24m 19s, 13s, 2g, 84.62%), Danny Higgin (35m 41s, 18s, 4g, 77.78%)

SOG 69-31 Pens 8-23