ALTRINCHAM ACES 10 - 3 SUNDERLAND CHIEFS 22 FEBRUARY 2003

Sunderland visited for Aces’ last League game of the season. Aces were missing Russ Richardson (first of three) and Billy Price (one) through suspension and Nick Crawley with an ankle injury.

The best chance of the early play fell to Steve Daly whose backhand effort was stopped by the goalie’s trailing leg. Aces soon took the lead after a flowing move saw Brian Worrall take the puck down the wing and pass inside for Greg Allen to clip it into the top of the net. Within a minute, Jason Hewitt was passing from the corner for Brian to shoot straight in. It was Referee Blaine Evans first Aces game for some time and his eccentricities were soon evident. Greg was checked hard from behind into the net and Sunderland goalie but somehow collected a minor for having his elbow up and interfering with the goalie. The Sunderland goalie then had a better claim for interference turned down and received his own minor for his troubles. Sunderland got on the mark when Michael Allinson took the puck wide and sent in a screened shot that must have taken a touch from Shaun Black on the way in. Aces scored again, a minute later, Jason sidestepping to create an opening before Brian’s effort from the side found Greg at the far post to tip it into an empty net.

Phil Verstappen made a good stick side save to deny Black and Greg made a great move through the defence but his shot and Jason’s follow up were saved. The next goal eventually arrived at 31.00 with another first line combo, Greg lifting in from the side. Thirty seconds later, a Jason effort is saved and the rebound falls to Brian, level with the goal, and his shot goes in off the keeper. We then had another refereeing first for us – two players off with illegal equipment minors, Simon obviously not realising his stick had broken for the second. Aces’ sixth goal was a powerplay shot along the ice into the corner from Kevin Cassidy before Greg’s shot along the ice also found its way through and in.

An early goal in the final period as Jason forced it in after a goalmouth scramble. An Allinson shot clipped the Aces post before Phil saved a breakaway powerplay chance but Black netted the rebound. Jason skated through their defence to score number nine and then tipped in a pass from Greg at the side for Aces’ tenth. Paul Watson ended the scoring, stretching to put in a pass from the side to make it 10-3.

1-0 08.08 Allen from Worrall
2-0 08.34 Worrall from Allen
2-1 16.33 Black from Allinson and Heslop
3-1 17.35 Allen from Worrall and Hewitt
4-1 31.00 Allen from Hewitt and Worrall
5-1 31.34 Worrall from Hewitt and Allen
6-1 36.28 Cassidy from Hewitt PPG
7-1 39.01 Allen from Dempsey
8-1 41.56 Hewitt from Allen and Worrall
8-2 49.03 Black from Allinson and Heslop
9-2 52.40 Hewitt from Elliott and Allen
10-2 54.58 Hewitt from Allen
10-3 58.35 Watson from Alderson and Huntley

ACES

Tim Dempsey 0+1, Greg Allen 4+5, Steve Michie, Brian Worrall 2+4,
Jason Hewitt 3+5, Simon Mills, Arran Richardson, Stephen Elliott 0+1, Luke Stretton,
Steve Daly (MoM), Kevin Cassidy 1+0
Phil Verstappen (31s, 3g, 90.32%), Danny Higgin

SOG 44-31 PIMS 12-12