SHEFFIELD SCIMITARS 7-8 ALTRINCHAM ACES 9 MARCH 2003

A tough trip to Sheffield, the site of two away defeats already this season. Russ Richardson was back but Tim’s one match ban was only realised late on so he didn’t ice, Nick Crawley was still out with his injury. Scimitars were at full strength.

The last two games at Sheffield had seen us go behind early on but what a start this time, the puck coming out from the corner for Billy Price to clip in at 0.34. Steve Daly had a breakaway chance saved by Matt Darlow in the Sheffield goal, and then Sheffield were level, Millie taking it in, laying it off and Smith scoring at the far post. Billy had a shot saved on a 2 on 1, Danny stopped Shaun Ashton twice and then Greg Allen had a backhand shot saved. Leyland took the puck round the back of the net, putting Scimitars in front from the angle. Jason Hewitt almost walked one in before Aces were level. On the powerplay, the rebound from Russ Richardson’s shot fell to Greg who put it in.

The second period started with Aces a man up and we capitalised after only 11 seconds, a pass from Simon on the left boards in mid ice found Jason on the right wing and he skated in and scorched a shot past Darlow. Our lead only lasted another 11 seconds as Millie got the puck in our zone, turned and clipped it past Danny. Aces took the lead again, Brian Worrall taking the puck in through the Sheffield defence and beating the keeper. This time the lead lasted 2 minutes before Farrand fired home from the point on the powerplay and soon after a Hardy back flick set up Shaun Ashton to put it under Danny for another PP goal. With goals coming from all angles, Sheffield’s new lead only lasted 3 minutes before Jason passed to Greg in the slot to shoot home with ease and then we’re ahead again, Greg being credited with a goal that looked like it was a rebound from a clearance. More end to end play before Millie skated round our net and may well have scored a wrap around if Danny hadn’t moved the net first. Sheffield thought they’d scored (but the net had been off first) but did score on the resultant powerplay after we’d coughed up the puck and Ross took it round Danny. Danny needed to make a good save to keep out a Carl Ashton tip. 6-6 was a fair scoreline at the interval and we knew early goals could be vital.

Aces fans were quite disappointed with the red light not showing behind the Sheffield net in the first minute but Danny was then stopping Barron before Millie took it in and put it past into the net. A 5 minute major on Russ for tripping Millie looked harsh from the Aces side (Sheffield saw it differently) and that looked like it may be the end of it but the clock kept on coming down and it was Billy being denied on a shorthanded break before Danny made a sliding stop on a Millie shot. Aces played off the penalty and Farrand took a daft penalty in front of the ref. Greg had a shot stopped by the goalie’s skate and then a controversial equalizer. A pass from behind from Jason to Billy who put it in front where it may have gone in off Greg’s skate. Greg didn’t think he’d touched it afterwards but if it went in off his skate then the ref must have been happy it was deflected rather than kicked. Game on. Tense action as Shaun Ashton scoops over the Aces bar, Steve Daly just misses a shorthanded tip in and Darlow stops a goalbound shot from Jason on a break with the butt end of his stick. With Sheffield taking penalties including a roughing minor on Millie at 56.33, Aces were on the powerplay and it got to Russ on the point and thank goodness, the shot was ON TARGET AND IN THE NET !!! 2.46 left. Sheffield take the puck into our end, the puck gets to Shaun Ashton, Danny’s on the ice with the net gaping, Ashton shoots and YES, Danny’s stoned him, SAVE OF THE SEASON. Sheffield take two more minors in the last 2 minutes, relief as we worry that one of them might have been on us but the clock’s counted down and we’ve won with a great team performance.
Millie’s petulance throughout the match continues with a last attempt to duff Russ up, penalty being assessed by the ref for his report.

A great game with neither side ever having more than a one goal lead.

0-1 00.34 Price
1-1 06.11 Smith from Abel and Millie
2-1 15.14 Leyland from Barron
2-2 18.15 Allen PPG
2-3 20.11 Hewitt from Mills PPG
3-3 20.22 Millie from Ross
3-4 22.03 Worrall
4-4 24.02 Farrand from Abel and Millie PPG
5-4 25.38 S Ashton from Hardy
5-5 28.15 Allen from Hewitt
5-6 28.50 Allen from Hewitt and Price
6-6 37.40 Ross from Leyland PPG
7-6 43.31 Millie from Ross and Leyland
7-7 51.42 Price PPG
7-8 57.14 R Richardson from Worrall

ACES

Greg Allen 3+0, Russ Richardson 1+0 (MoM), Steve Michie, Brian Worrall 1+1, Jason Hewitt 1+2, Simon Mills 0+1, Arran Richardson, Stephen Elliott, Luke Stretton,
Steve Daly, Billy Price 2+1
Phil Verstappen, Danny Higgin (30s, 7g, 76.67%)

SOG 30-33 PIMS 36 (plus Millie penalty to be assessed)-23